A few hours before first pitch of the series finale between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers, David Freese was on the field to run the bases as another test of his hamstring.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts later said all continues to go well and Freese remains on track to be reinstated from the 10-day injured list once active rosters expand on Sept. 1. Little did Freese know, he would get another opportunity to ensure his hamstring is in good standing.
After being held to one hit — a Kenta Maeda single — and shut out through eight innings, the Dodgers rallied to score three runs in the ninth and sweep the Blue Jays behind a second consecutive walk-off win.
The walk-off hit was Hernandez’s first of his career. It was all the more memorable in that it occurred in front of his wife Mariana and family members on Kiké Hernandez Bobblehead Night at Dodger Stadium.
“Walk-offs are always fun. My first one. I’ve scored a few, but first one at the plate. Bobblehead night, it was a pretty good night. I didn’t really have time to think about it,” he said.
Even with a wave of emotions flowing through his body, Hernandez had the frame of mind to have some fun at Freese’s expense.
“I turned around and saw David Freese was the first one out there, and like two weeks ago Russell Martin got a walk-off hit and juked him pretty good,” Hernandez recalled.
“I saw him running at me and couldn’t wait to juke him. Even though he knew it was coming he still fell for it.”
The Dodgers’ 12th walk-off win leads the Majors and is their most since the 2012 club also had that many. The franchise record is 15 walk-offs, set by the 1974 club.
They’ve become so happenstance this season the Dodgers essentially expect a walk-off win will occur, with the only question being in the details.
“Like we’ve talked about 12 times, you expect it,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “You don’t know who it’s going to be, and I think that even after that walk, [the Blue Jays] felt it. You start having that and it manifests itself, guys want to be in that spot.”
