Uribe has flare for postseason drama

ST. LOUIS -- His numerous unforgettable postseason moments bring such pleasure for Dodgers third baseman Juan Uribe that he struggles to designate a favorite.

On the eve of Game 1 of yet another playoff series -- the National League Championship Series against the Cardinals -- Uribe beamed at the memories.

One favorite for him was when he dashed from his then-shortstop position and tumbled into unfriendly stands in Houston to catch the second out of the ninth inning of Game 4 of the 2005 World Series, then made a nice pickup behind second base to put away the final out as his White Sox won it all. There were plenty in 2010, when he drove in five runs to help the Giants defeat the Rangers in five games to win the World Series.

Uribe said Monday night was pretty cool as well. It started with failure. After Yasiel Puig's one-out double in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the NL Division Series against the Braves, Uribe twice fouled off bunt attempts. He more than made up for it, though, by taking David Carpenter's 2-2 pitch over the left-field wall for a two-run homer that proved the difference in a series-ending 4-3 Dodgers victory.

But it's less important for Uribe, 34, to rate old moments, what with so many new ones to make.

"I like to say when I'm hitting, 'It's this moment,'" Uribe said. "I like to hit in a tie game or a game that's close. I never try to do too much. I try to see the ball and hit the ball.

"And I'm a little bit lucky. In this moment, I'm helping the team."

Uribe demonstrated his calm in those moments against the Braves. He understood manager Don Mattingly's decision to bunt, even though he has not had more than three sacrifice bunts in any of his last five regular seasons.

"They gave me the bunt and I tried to bunt," Uribe said. "When they took off the bunt with two strikes, I tried to move the runner."

The runner moved leisurely after Uribe crushed a hanging breaking ball.

Winning has followed Uribe. The White Sox acquired Uribe from the Rockies, his original team, for infielder Aaron Miles after the 2003 season. Each of his teams since -- the White Sox, the Giants (who signed him in 2009) and the Dodgers (who signed him before 2011) has gone at least to LCS play.

"I don't think, 'They win because I'm here,'" Uribe said. "When a team wins, it's 25 guys and I'm only one guy. I've just been on good teams.

"I just want a team that wants me and one I want to be with. It just happens."