Kiké Hernández tied for the game high with two hits and the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen bounced back from recent struggles for a 3-2 win in the series finale against the Oakland Athletics.
The Dodgers were on the verge of squandering a double from Teoscar Hernández and Gavin Lux’s walk in the first inning when Kiké Hernández gave them an early lead with his two-run double. Hernández later doubled to lead off the sixth inning but was stranded.
Hernández hit safely in all three games against the A’s and tallied six total.
While the Dodgers quickly jumped out ahead, River Ryan surrendered a game-tying, two-run homer to Brent Rooker in the bottom of the first. Those were the only runs Ryan allowed over 4.2 innings, but that was aided by Evan Phillips getting the Dodgers out of a jam.
Kiké Hernández is keeping #PitchersWhoRake alive in the DH Era.
🎥: @Dodgers pic.twitter.com/5llX79AlI1— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 4, 2024
Evan Phillips delivered for the #Dodgers in a huge spot.
(🎥: @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/Eh19G0IaPz— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 4, 2024
Phillips came on to face Rooker with the bases loaded as Ryan failed to record the third out. It was the first time in three starts that the Dodgers prospect did not complete at least 5.1 innings.
Phillips struck out Rooker looking in a key at-bat that could signal the start of a turnaround for the right-hander. Phillips is still among the options to close out games for the Dodgers, but his ongoing struggles resulted in being moved into other situations as well.
After Phillips, Blake Treinen, Alex Vesia, Daniel Hudson and Anthony Banda each pitched one scoreless inning. They combined to allow just one baserunner — on a sun double hit against Treinen in the sixth inning.
The save was Banda’s second of his career but first for the Dodgers.
Kiké Hernández two-way player
Hernández’s big weekend in Oakland included three hits and a pitching appearance to finish out Saturday’s win. That made Hernández the first player in the Modern Era of MLB history to have at least three hits and pitch out of the bullpen in a shutout victory.
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