As he celebrated reaching the 10-year mark in service time, a milestone that not many gamers who’ve performed within the Main Leagues are capable of attain, Hernández was welcomed by his spouse, sisters, dad and mom and canine at his residence to have a good time his achievement. Hernández’s spouse, Mariana, ready a one-hour video of household, associates and teammates giving the Dodgers’ utilityman their congratulations.
As soon as he bought to the stadium and the lights turned on, Hernández confirmed why he has defeated the chances and caught round within the Majors for this lengthy. Over the course of his profession, he’s had a knack for delivering in large conditions.
Hernández did simply that on Saturday, launching a game-tying homer within the ninth off former Dodgers nearer Kenley Jansen and tying the sport as soon as once more within the tenth with an RBI single to assist L.A. full a 7-6 comeback win over Boston in 11 innings at Dodger Stadium.
Fittingly sufficient, it was additionally Hernández who scored the successful run on Will Smith’s bases-loaded walk-off single.
“It’s been a day of lots of reflection,” Hernández stated. “It’s laborious to take a seat again and recognize what you’ve achieved or what the sport has achieved for you. … It’s humorous how issues work. Clearly, I’ve performed for 4 groups and two of them have been nearly all of my profession, and I get to have a good time my tenure right here at Dodger Stadium enjoying in a Dodger uniform, regardless that it appears slightly completely different. … It’s a ravishing factor.”
It’s been a tough season offensively for Hernández, who has needed to alter to a part-time function in opposition to principally left-handed pitching. He got here into Saturday’s sport hitting beneath .200 and had solely taken 23 plate appearances in July. On Saturday, Hernández got here off the bench as soon as once more, however this time, he was capable of get issues going for the Dodgers.
With Los Angeles down a run within the ninth, it was a well-known scene at Dodger Stadium. Jansen was strolling out of the bullpen, a sight the Dodgers noticed many occasions for greater than a decade. This time, nevertheless, there was no “California Love” blaring from the audio system, and the Dodgers have been hoping for his or her longtime nearer to blow the save.
Hernández had solely confronted Jansen as soon as in his profession, a broken-bat flyout on a two-seamer. After the out, Hernández stated Jansen playfully yelled at him to “cease dishonest on the cutter.” This time, Hernández did get a cutter he may deal with and smashed it deep into the left-field bleachers.
“If he did [say something], I didn’t hear it as a result of the stadium was loud and I used to be sort of blacked out as a result of it had been some time since I did one thing in a giant second on this stadium,” Hernández stated. “It was slightly little bit of a blackout and having fun with the second, however I’m positive he may need some phrases tomorrow.”
An inning later, with the Dodgers trailing by one as soon as once more, Hernández got here up with two outs and Andy Pages, who drove within the first run of the body with an RBI double, standing in scoring place.
Hernández shortly fell behind 0-2 within the rely in opposition to right-hander Greg Weissert. He took a number of deep breaths and stated he reminded himself that “there’s no person higher in these conditions.” He turned out to be proper, as he despatched a 3-2 sinker up the center to tie the sport within the tenth.
“Too dangerous I despatched him a very good bottle of wine over there, so now he can have a good time,” stated Crimson Sox supervisor Alex Cora. “Even when he’s struggling, he’s a menace. He’s a man that, he likes the massive moments.”
The massive moments are why the Dodgers determined to re-sign Hernández within the spring. These video games are approaching shortly. However earlier than all that occurs, Hernández ended Saturday the identical approach it started. He was welcomed contained in the Dodgers’ clubhouse with glasses of champagne in celebration on a day that shall be inconceivable to neglect.
“It was a extremely good reminiscence for him, being the participant of the sport and hitting the game-tying residence run,” stated Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts. “One other large hit to tie the sport up late, so actually blissful for him, actually pleased with him and it was a very good collection win for us.”
