LOS ANGELES — Unhealthy Bunny’s phrases echoed over the Dodger Stadium loudspeakers as Kiké Hernández stepped into the batter’s field within the backside of the fourth inning with the tying run on base.
Strolling on the moon, Michael Jackson/Mr. October, Reggie Jackson.
And positive sufficient, simply as he has so many occasions earlier than within the postseason, Hernández got here via.
“October Kiké is one thing fairly particular,” supervisor Dave Roberts stated. “And the monitor document speaks for itself. All through historical past, he is among the best all through historical past of the postseason.”
On the fourth pitch of the at-bat, Hernández swung on a four-seamer within the higher outdoors nook of the zone and lined it into the hole in proper area for a double as Max Muncy got here round to attain for Hernández’s thirty sixth profession postseason RBI, tying Freddie Freeman for tenth most amongst energetic gamers.
Hernández himself scored on the following at-bat off a blooper from Miguel Rojas that dropped simply honest in proper area to present the Dodgers the lead. He additionally sparked what would turn out to be a four-run sixth inning with a leadoff single because the Dodgers took full management of their eventual 8-4 series-clinching win over the Reds in Recreation 2 of the NL Wild Card.
“It feels nice,” Hernández stated about ending off the sweep. “Going into it, we knew they have been a harmful crew. They’ve a extremely good beginning pitcher, a sneaky good bullpen and a few grinders that may put the ball in play. They’re a extremely quick crew, catch the ball and do the basics nicely.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be straightforward.”
The Dodgers discovered themselves in an early gap after a fielding error from Teoscar Hernández during which a fly ball that might’ve been the third out deflected off his glove. The Reds capitalized and took a 2-0 lead within the first inning.
If Recreation 1 was concerning the Dodgers’ energy on full show, Recreation 2 was extra of a demise by a thousand paper cuts. They began chipping away within the third with an RBI single from Mookie Betts to chop the deficit in half and Max Muncy led off the following inning with a base hit of his personal.
The desk was set for “October Kiké” to do his factor.
“That was big,” Roberts stated. “Kiké is clearly an energy-giver. When he is enjoying — enjoying nicely — guys feed off of that.”
However only a few weeks in the past, Hernández wasn’t even positive if he’d be enjoying in any respect this October. He performed in simply 93 video games this season — his fewest since 2022 — and missed over a month with left elbow irritation. There was some extent the place Hernández thought he was executed for the season.
Even when he was on the sector, Hernández struggled. He slashed .203/.255/.366. His .621 OPS was his lowest in 9 years. It wasn’t till Muncy sat the crew’s closing 4 common season video games with a leg bruise that Hernández was capable of get some constant at-bats in opposition to right-handed pitching.
Nonetheless, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman saved Hernández’s October monitor document in thoughts when he and Roberts finalized the Wild Card roster. The main target and power he brings, his defensive capabilities and his capacity to gradual issues down in massive moments all helped Friedman and Roberts really feel snug betting on him.
“I do know they introduced me right here for these sort of moments,” Hernández stated. “It sucks that for 162 video games, it did not actually go nicely. However as soon as we get right here, it does not actually matter.”
The great thing about the postseason for Hernández lies in the way it can utterly flip the script of what occurred via 162 video games. You may have a foul 12 months and utterly begin over within the postseason. Make massive performs, assist your crew win, and the narrative a couple of participant is turned the wrong way up. The alternative can be true.
October makes legacies, however it might probably additionally break them.
“No person ever remembers what you probably did within the common season,” Hernández stated. “Everyone remembers what occurred within the playoffs.”
