Teoscar Hernández has been a key member of the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup this season, and his importance to the team was most recently on display during a furious rally in the ninth inning on Tuesday night.
But that was followed by the right-handed slugger going just 1-for-4 in the Dodgers’ walk-off loss. Hernández would have received another opportunity to potentially put his imprint on the game if not being removed early.
Chris Taylor replaced Hernández in left field to begin the bottom of the seventh inning and lined out to second base in his only at-bat.
Following the loss, Hernández explained he was merely taken out for rest purposes, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“Everything is fine, yeah. … Just being safe. Just to get some rest. I’m going to be in there [Thursday].”
The Dodgers only held a 6-4 lead at the time Hernández was removed from the game, which occurred after he grounded out to end the top of the seventh. Despite the close score and ultimate loss, Hernández said he was not surprised by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts taking him out:
“No, because he has done it before. It’s nothing new. Nothing to think about. He’s done it before. It was one of those situations where he wanted to get C.T. an at-bat. He always does it when he’s going to play him tomorrow. It’s nothing serious.”
Hernández did acknowledge playing at Coors Field for the first time in his career has proven somewhat challenging because of the high altitude:
“It’s a little hard. This is my first time here playing regular games. You can feel the difference when you run a lot, or go first to third. But it’s been fine. I just adjust to it, try to get some rest and keep going.”
Through the first three games of the series, Hernández is 3-for-14 with one double, one home run and three RBI.
Overall, he’s started in each of the Dodgers’ 76 games this season. That’s going to be 77 when Hernández is in the Dodgers lineup for the series finale against the Rockies.
Freddie Freeman is tied with Hernández for the team lead in games played and starts, while Shohei Ohtani is second with 73.
Teoscar Hernández part of MLB history
Jason Heyward’s grand slam and Hernández’s three-run home run on Tuesday night made MLB history as the Dodgers became the first team with such hits when trailing in the ninth inning or later.
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