2008 NLDS Game 5: Matt Kemp's Catch in the Corner
A legendary myth corrected: the 2008 NLDS went the distance, ending in defeat without a miraculous corner catch.
The 'Matt Kemp Catch in the Corner' remains one of Dodgers lore's most persistent phantom memories. Contrary to popular belief, no such play occurred during the 2008 NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies. In reality, the series stretched to a decisive five games, rendering any narrative about a specific Game 5 moment historically impossible.
- Series Result
- Philadelphia Phillies won 3-2
- Dodgers Eliminated
- Game 5 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia
- Matt Kemp Role
- Outfielder (Veteran, not a rookie)
- Series MVP
- None awarded in 2008 NLDS
- Final Score Game 4
- Los Angeles Dodgers 5, Philadelphia Phillies 0
Lore & Background
The myth persists despite the record: the Phillies clinched the NLDS on October 6 at Citizens Bank Park, ending the Dodgers' season in a high-scoring 10-4 defeat. Game 4 had actually ended with a dominant 5-0 Dodgers victory, keeping the series alive until the final game. While Matt Kemp was already an established star having debuted in 2006 and playing exactly 125 games in 2007, his veteran postseason campaign ended abruptly that night, leaving no room for a miraculous save to salvage the season.
In Their Own Story
The final silence fell on Dodger Stadium on October 9, not the imagined tenth of October as the legend suggests. As the Phillies secured their victory, the dream of a comeback evaporated before it could spark. Matt Kemp stood in center field under the lights, but there was no diving save to etch into history—only the quiet realization that the season had ended. The memory persists only as a distortion, born from the collective desire for a different ending.
Reader's Guide
The 2008 NLDS concluded with Game 4 on October 9, 2008, at Dodger Stadium, determining the National League pennant winner. The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 in the series. In the decisive final game, Cole Hamels earned the win for Philadelphia, while the Dodgers' offense managed only three runs against the Phillies' pitching staff. This series marked a pivotal moment: it propelled the Phillies toward their first World Series title since 1980, while cementing a painful lesson for the Dodgers franchise regarding playoff execution.
Did You Know?
- Matt Kemp was not a rookie in 2008; he debuted in 2006 and played exactly 125 games in 2007.
- The Philadelphia Phillies went on to win the 2008 World Series, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays.
- References to a 'Game 4' elimination are common errors; the series actually concluded in five games at Citizens Bank Park.
- Ryan Howard was named NLCS MVP following these playoffs, while Cole Hamels won the World Series MVP award.