Charlie Culberson was thrust into the spotlight Saturday, first unexpectedly replacing Corey Seager on the National League Championship Roster, then starting at shortstop and batting eighth against the Chicago Cubs in Game 1.
Culberson, who spent the first five months of the regular season with Triple-A Oklahoma City, had last played on Oct. 1 when he entered off the bench, and his last start was Sept. 23. So it was fitting the 28-year-old found himself batting in a crucial situation.
Jose Quintana got ahead in the count 0-2, but Culberson lifted the third pitch of the at-bat into left field for a sacrifice fly that tied the game.