PHILADELPHIA — Jonathan Broxton descended to a place on Monday night visited by only a select group of players in Dodgers history.
Ralph Branca was there in 1951 when he gave up a pennant-winning three-run home run to Bobby Thomson in a series-deciding playoff game against the Giants that came to be known as the "Shot Heard 'Round the World."
Terry Forster was there on the final day of the 1982 regular season when he served up a home run to Joe Morgan that cost the Dodgers the National League West title.
And, of course, Tom Niedenfuer was there.
Twice.
The first time was in Game 5 of the 1985 NL Championship Series in St. Louis when he gave up a ninth-inning homer to the Cardinals' Ozzie Smith. Two days later, in Game 6 at Dodger Stadium, he gave up another ninth-inning home run -- this time to Jack Clark, which fueled a debate over Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda's decision to pitch to the first baseman.
But Niedenfuer noted that Broxton's case differs from the others in one significant way.
"If they can win the series and he can get two or three more saves, people will forget about it," Niedenfuer said by phone from his Florida home Tuesday. "He can redeem himself. I couldn't."
The Dodgers' season ended the day Clark took Niedenfuer deep. The home runs charged to Branca and Forster also decided season-ending games.
Niedenfuer knows what a hit like the two-out, two-run walk-off double Broxton gave up to Jimmy Rollins in the Dodgers' 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the NLCS could do to a career. Or a life.
"Relief pitching is definitely magnified in the playoffs," he said. "Ask Dennis Eckersley."
Eckersley, a Hall of Famer, is still remembered for the home run Kirk Gibson hit off him in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.
Niedenfuer had one of his best seasons in 1985, posting 19 saves and a 2.71 earned-run average in 106 1/3 innings over 64 relief appearances. Then he gave up the home run to Smith that ended 2-2 ties in both that game and the series.
"Fluky," Niedenfuer said.
Smith hit only 28 home runs in 19 major league seasons, and none in the postseason other than the one Niedenfuer surrendered.
Lasorda called on Niedenfuer again in Game 6. Clark hit the first pitch deep into the left-field pavilion.
The three-run shot turned a 5-4 Dodgers lead into a 7-5 Cardinals victory, and St. Louis moved on to the World Series.
