This was the turning point of Game 2 of the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets.

And it was one of the most controversial moments in recent postseason baseball history.

The situation: Dodgers on first and third, one out, trailing 2-1.

Here is video of the event, which came after Howie Kendrick hit a soft liner up the middle that bounced before Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy could reach it.

Chase Utley of the Dodgers took off from first base and collided heavily with Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada near second base, but I think it was tactics and survival that was going through his head, not violence.

–“On a ground ball, I have to get to second base as fast as possible and go in hard, if there is the slightest risk of a double play.”

(Remember, an out at second, but Kendrick safe at first means the runner at third scores, tying the score at 2-2.)

–“A double play, we’re on our way to losing two games at home in a best-of-five, and hardly anyone comes back from that.”

–“Tejada is slow to the bag, and I can break up this play.”

After that, pure reactions. Utley goes in hard and late and wide and knocks down Tejada, who has his back to the play as he tries to touch second after an awkward toss from Murphy.

As Utley approaches it was unlikely but still possible Tejada could make the relay to first for the double play to end the inning.

Utley has been savaged in many quarters. An ESPN writer called his slide “malicious” — when the writer could not possibly know what was in Utley’s mind.

But let’s assume that players, including Chase Utley, pretty much never want to seriously hurt another player.

Then there is this: Utley, 36, has played 1,515 regular-season games, 1,479 at second base.

If anyone knows the dangers of trying to turn a double play while playing in the middle infield, Utley is that guy. We can safely assume he has been involved in all kinds of collisions at second base, as the defensive player.

And knowing all that, at an age when he is injury-prone himself, he went into second the way he did.

It seems trite, it seems “not enough” to say, in defense of Utley, “the game is played that way” — but it is. If it were not, he would have been called out and the Dodgers would not have gone on to win 5-2 and even the series at 1-1.

I believe Utley did not intend to hurt Tejada, let alone inflict a broken leg on him. I am convinced he thought “I can’t allow a double play here, if I can possibly help it.”

Condemnation of him is pointless and incorrectly directed. If baseball wants to end that sort of play, it needs to make it clear — and instruct umpires to call it that way.

Until then, slides of that sort will continue to be made — even by those who know best the toll it can take: when they know a season is on the line.