Several years of tormenting the New York Mets during his storied career with the Philadelphia Phillies has Chase Utley high on the list of their fan base’s most-despised players. Utley cemented that standing during his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He slid into Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada and broke his leg while attempting to break up a double play in Game 2 of the 2015 National League Division Series. Utley was booed mercilessly when the NLDS shifted to Citi Field for Games 3 and 4.
That vitriol has been present for each of the Dodgers’ trips to New York since that time. Well aware of it, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts joked about the club activating Utley off the 10-day disabled list in time for the weekend series with the Mets.
Utley appeared in two games, making one start, and going 2-for-6 with a run scored. His biggest contribution might have been an emotional boost for Kiké Hernandez.
Following the Dodgers’ thrilling win on Sunday to complete a series sweep, Hernandez said he’s motivated by the treatment Utley receives from Mets fans, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
“I used my dad’s bat for the second one. I really don’t like the way they boo him here, so that adds a little bit to my game.”
Hernandez has affectionately taken to calling his veteran teammate ‘dad,’ and first referenced using Utley’s bat on a home run after a win against the Washington Nationals.
Hernandez slugged two homers on Sunday, first to lead off the game and later in the sixth to pull the Dodgers even. His 12 home runs this season are good for a career high.
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