Ben Francisco and the 10 Biggest Pinch-Hit Home Runs in MLB Postseason History

On Tuesday afternoon, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Ben Francisco, who was used sparingly by the Phillies after the All-Star break, hit a pinch-hit three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning that gave the Phillies a 3-0 advantage over the St. Louis Cardinals.

For Francisco, it was his first home run since May 25 and undoubtedly the biggest of his career.

Throughout postseason history, there have been numerous players who have shined in the pinch when their team needed a huge lift.

Here is our list of the top 10 biggest pinch-hit home runs in postseason history.

10. Trot Nixon: Boston Red Sox, 2004 ALDS, Game 3

In the 2003 American League Divisional Series between the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics, the A’s had won the first two games in Oakland and were looking for a sweep in Game 3 at Fenway Park.

In a tightly pitched contest, the Red Sox and A’s were knotted up at 1-1 with the game headed into extra innings. One run was all the A’s needed to complete the sweep.

However, that run never came, and in the bottom of the 11th, with A’s pitcher Rich Harden on the mound, catcher Doug Mirabelli singled to right field with one out. Trot Nixon, pinch-hitting for Gabe Kapler, then lined a Harden offering over the center field wall, giving the Red Sox a 3-1 victory.

The home run proved to be the catalyst that the Red Sox needed, as they won the next two games for a come-from-behind 3-2 ALDS victory and advanced to the American League Championship Series against the rival New York Yankees.

9. Chili Davis: Minnesota Twins, 1991 World Series, Game 3

In the 1991 World Series between the Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves, the Twins had gotten off to a hot start in the series by winning the first two games at the Metrodome. Now at the Atlanta Fulton County Stadium for Game 3, the Braves had a 4-2 lead entering the eighth inning.

Brian Harper started off the inning for the Twins by reaching on a throwing error by Braves third baseman Terry Pendleton. Braves manager Bobby Cox decided that starting pitcher Steve Avery had enough and called to the bullpen for reliever Alejandro Pena. Twins manager Tom Kelly called on Chili Davis to pinch hit for pitcher Steve Bedrosian.

Davis took a Pena pitch and drove it over the left field fence for a clutch pinch-hit two-run home run, tying the game at 4-4.

The Twins, however, were unable to take advantage of the Davis homer, losing to the Braves in the 12th inning.

8. Ed Sprague: Toronto Blue Jays, 1992 World Series, Game 2

In Game 2 of the 1992 World Series between the Atlanta Braves and the Toronto Blue Jays, the Braves had taken the opener at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium and were holding a 4-3 lead heading into the top of the ninth inning.

Braves closer Jeff Reardon quickly got the first out, retiring Pat Borders on a fly ball to right field. After giving up a walk to pinch-hitter Derek Bell, Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston called upon Ed Sprague to pinch hit for Duane Ward.

Sprague wasted no time, taking Reardon’s first pitch and depositing it over the left field wall for a two-run home run, giving the Blue Jays a 5-4 lead. The Jays’ Tom Henke held on in the night, allowing the Blue Jays to tie the series at one game apiece.

7. Ben Francisco: Philadelphia Phillies, 2011 NLDS, Game 3

On Tuesday afternoon, the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals were locked in a pitcher’s duel, with the Cards’ Jaime Garcia and the Phils’ Cole Hamels throwing up goose eggs for six innings.

In the top of the seventh, with Shane Victorino and Carlos Ruiz on base, Garcia was looking to get out of a jam. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel made the decision to pinch-hit for Hamels, who was throwing a gem of his own. Ben Francisco, who had played sparingly over the last two months and had not homered since May 25, launched a blast over the left-center field fence, giving the Phillies a 3-0 lead.

The Cardinals would come back to scratch out two runs, but the Phillies held on in St. Louis for a 2-1 series lead.

6. Mike Lowell: Florida Marlins, 2003 NLCS, Game 1

In 2003, the Florida Marlins played the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series with Game 1 at Wrigley Field. The Cubs and Marlins battled throughout, and at the end of regulation, the game was tied 8-8.

In the top of the 11th, Cubs reliever Mark Guthrie came on in relief of Joe Borowski to start the inning, and the Marlins sent pinch-hitter Mike Lowell up to hit for reliever Ugeth Urbina.

With a full count, Lowell took a Guthrie offering and launched it high into the night for a home run, giving the Marlins a 9-8 lead. Braden Looper got the side in order in the bottom half of the inning, giving the Marlins the first game of the series.

5. George Vukovich: Philadelphia Phillies, 1981 NLDS, Game 4

In 1981, because of the players’ strike that cut the season in half, a playoff round was added to accommodate the first and second half winners in each division, which meant that the Montreal Expos would be in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, facing the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Expos got off to a nice start, winning the first two games of the five-game series before the Phillies came back in Game 3 to extend the series.

With their season in the balance, the Phillies battled the Expos to a 5-5 tie at end of regulation. After Phillies star reliever Tug McGraw retired the Expos in the top of the 10th, Phillies manager Dallas Green called on George Vukovich to pinch hit for McGraw to lead off the bottom half of the inning.

The decision turned out to be the right one—Vukovich ended the game with a solo blast off Expos reliever Jeff Reardon, giving the Phillies life for at least one more game.

4. John Lowenstein: Baltimore Orioles, 1979 ALCS, Game 1

For the first time in franchise history the California Angels were in the playoffs, matched up against the powerful Baltimore Orioles.

With Game 1 at Memorial Stadium, the Orioles’ Jim Palmer and the Angels’ Nolan Ryan were locked in a tight battle with the game tied at 3-3 after seven innings. John Montague replaced Ryan to start the eighth and kept the game scoreless.

Orioles reliever Don Stanhouse replaced Palmer and put up a scoreless top of the tenth. Montague returned to the mound for the Angels for the bottom half of the inning.

Montague gave up a single to Doug DeCinces, who was then sacrificed to second by second baseman Rich Dauer. After retiring pinch hitter Terry Crowley on a flyball, Montague intentionally walked Al Bumbry to create a force at any base with two outs.

Orioles manager Earl Weaver then called on John Lowenstein to pinch-hit for shortstop Mark Belanger. Lowenstein, on an 0-2 count, launched a Montague pitch deep for a three-run blast, giving the Orioles a 6-3 lead and an early lead in the ALCS that they would not relinquish.

3. Dusty Rhodes: New York Giants, 1954 World Series, Game 1

In 1954, the Cleveland Indians put together one of most outstanding regular seasons in MLB history with a record of 111-43, and they were heavily favored over the New York Giants in the ’54 World Series.

In Game 1 at the Polo Grounds, the Giants stubbornly held their own, and the game was tied at 2-2 heading into extra innings.

Indians manager Al Lopez stayed with starter Bob Lemon to start the bottom of the 10th inning. Lemon retired the first batter he faced with a strikeout but walked center fielder Willie Mays, who then stole second.

Lemon then walked Hank Thompson to create a force at any base, and Dusty Rhodes was sent up to pinch hit for left fielder Monte Irvin.

Rhodes took Lemon deep, a three-run blast to right field, giving the Giants a 5-2 victory. The Indians never recovered, losing the next three games for an improbable series sweep by the Giants.

Photo courtesy sfgate.com

2. Bernie Carbo: Boston Red Sox, 1975 World Series, Game 6

Following a scheduled off day and three straight days of drenching rain, the 1975 World Series was finally ready to get going once again on Oct. 21, 1975.

The Red Sox were attempting to battle back from a 3-2 deficit in Game 6 but found themselves trailing 6-3 entering the bottom of the eighth inning.

With Pedro Borbon on the mound for the Cincinnati Reds, the Red Sox found some life, leading off the inning with a single by Fred Lynn and a walk by Rico Petrocelli. Rawly Eastwick came on in relief of Borbon, and with two and no one out, Eastwick struck out Dwight Evans and retired Rick Burleson on a pop-up to George Foster in left field.

With two out, Red Sox manager Darrell Johnson called on Bernie Carbo to pinch-hit for pitcher Rogelio Moret. Working the count to 2-2, Carbo checked his swing on a nasty pitch from Eastwick. On the very next pitch, Carbo launched a deep drive to the center field bleachers for a dramatic pinch-hit three-run home run, tying the game at 6-6.

The game would move to the bottom of the 12th, leading to one of the most famous home runs ever hit by Carlton Fisk.

However, without Carbo’s blast, Fisk never would have had the opportunity.

1. Kirk Gibson: Los Angeles Dodgers, 1988 World Series, Game 1

Game 1 of the 1988 World Series pitted the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Oakland Athletics. Kirk Gibson, who would later go on to win the NL Most Valuable Player Award, had been beset by a variety of leg injuries during the latter part of the regular season and the NLCS, and was unable to start for the Dodgers in the opening game of the series.

A’s starter Dave Stewart pitched eight effective innings, and the A’s held a slim 4-3 lead entering the bottom of the ninth inning.

Reliever Dennis Eckersley came on for the A’s to close it out for Stewart. After getting two quick outs on a pop fly and a strikeout, Eckersley walked pinch-hitter Mike Davis. With the pitcher Alejandro Pena due up next, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda called upon a limping Gibson as a pinch-hitter to face Eckersley.

Gibson appeared to be wincing in severe pain with each swing and worked the count full.

On Eckersley’s seventh pitch, Gibson caught a slider and launched it deep into the right field seats, giving the Dodgers an incredible 5-4 victory.

The mighty A’s were left reeling, and the Dodgers went on take the series, four games to one.

It was the only at-bat that Gibson would have for the entire series.

Doug Mead is a featured columnist with Bleacher Report. His work has been featured on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle. Follow Doug on Twitter, @Sports_A_Holic.