Cincinnati Reds: All-time greatest moments at Great American Ball Park

3. Michael Lorenzen’s 3-run home run against the Dodgers

August 19, 2016 was not just another game for Michael Lorenzen. Lorenzen, like he usually does, came in as a relief pitcher in the seventh inning. However, when Lorenzen took the field, the song “Who Are You?” by The Who was playing over the GABP speakers.

Michael was just activated from the bereavement list following the passing of Clif Lorenzen, Michael’s father. Clif’s favorite band was The Who. It was a simple gesture by Lorenzen to pay homage to his late father. Little did Lorenzen know that there was a bigger gesture in store when he came up to bat.

In the bottom of the seventh, in only Lorenzen’s fourth at-bat of the year, Michael stepped to the plate with two men on. No one expected such an important and spectacular moment to come out of something so sad.

It only took one pitch, a 97-MPH fastball off of Dodger’s pitcher Pedro Baez, and he took it deep to right-center field to help seal the game for the Redlegs. It was Lorenzen’s first Major League home run. As he crossed the plate, Lorenzen pointed to the sky as if to acknowledge what we all were thinking. Moments later Lorenzen emerged from the dugout for a curtain call.

I think it’s moments like this, the magic and miraculous ones, that most of us are sports fans to begin with, and it happened in our very own backyard at GABP. I believe sports has a way of influencing our world and showing that sometimes it’s bigger than just a game played on a field of some sort. That’s why I love this moment with Reds relief pitcher, Michael Lorenzen.