LOS ANGELES -- Charlie Culberson delivered one of the bigger home runs of last year, a walk-off shot to clinch the National League West title on Vin Scully's final home broadcast. When the season was over, Culberson was released. He re-signed with the Dodgers, was sent to the Minor Leagues and stayed there until a September callup, in which he had 13 at-bats.
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So, how in the world was he ready to step in for the injured Corey Seager at shortstop for Game 1 of the NL Championship Series presented by Camping World?
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"Honestly, I tried to prepare before the postseason, whether they needed me to be activated or fill in, so it wouldn't be much of a shock if I was activated," Culberson said after the Dodgers' 5-2 victory over the Cubs on Saturday night. "But I had a little emotion running through me before the game."
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On Saturday morning, Culberson learned of the death of a loved one. Joan Harwood, his wife's ailing grandmother whom Culberson visited in Georgia last weekend, died at age 83, according to the Los Angeles Times.
During the game, though, Culberson was as clutch as he was with that clinching walk-off homer. His sacrifice fly in the sixth inning tied the game, 2-2; he followed Yasiel Puig's seventh-inning home run with a double, and he was awarded a run after being tagged out at the plate when a review determined that Cubs catcher Willson Contreras had illegally blocked the plate.
If Culberson was bitter at the hand he was dealt coming into this season, it didn't prevent him from being ready when he got the call. He knows he's taking the place of one of the best players in the game, but he also knows nobody can replace Seager.
"Corey Seager's a big part of this organization, everybody knows that, I know it too," Culberson said. "I'm just one guy, I'm going to try to do my best, prepare like I'm going to play a baseball game, take a deep breath and go out and have fun."
Culberson said the callup, even though he spent most of it on the bench, was helpful to prepare him for Saturday. He started one big league game at shortstop this year and was 0-for-7 in last year's NL Division Series for the Dodgers.

"Being able to come up in September, that was huge," he said. "Being at Triple-A the whole season, it is what it is. I'm able to play baseball, thrilled to get the call to come back up and play in front of these fans and put the uniform on. Nothing really new to it, take in the moment, relax and enjoy baseball."

On the play at the plate, Culberson said he had no doubt he would be awarded the run.
"At first I thought I'd have a lane, kind of slide to the side and touch the plate," he said. "But at the last second he obviously stepped in front of me. Looking at the replay, it's pretty obvious he blocked the plate. It's baseball, but luckily for us, the rule says you have to give us the lane, so it worked out."