The Los Angeles Dodgers were blanked in their series opener with the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in a 1-0 loss after the offense failed to hit with runners in scoring position.
A few tough breaks happened for the Dodgers when right-handed slugger Teoscar Hernández put a charge into multiple swings that could have changed the course of the game. The air in Pittsburgh didn’t allow for hard hit balls to travel on Tuesday, aside from a solo shot from Pirates outfielder Jack Suwinksi that proved to be the decider.
With two runners on in each instance in the third and eighth innings, Hernández barreled two balls that refused to leave the stadium. He discussed his bad luck outcomes and the randomness of the season, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“Hit the ball hard. But no luck. Twice, to the warning track,” Hernandez said of his at-bats. “It’s something that I don’t control, other than trying to hit the ball the way I hit it. It just happens. It’s baseball. Just try to get going, try harder.”
Hernández has been very good for the Dodgers since May 1, posting a 123 wRC+, lowering his strikeout rate from unsustainable numbers.
In reference to Tuesday’s loss, Hernández shrugged off any notion that frustration will have a carry over effect:
“I mean, there’s been a couple games where we have a lot of guys on base and we hit the ball right at people,” Hernandez said. “But like I said, it’s part of the season, it’s gonna happen. It’s happening for us the last week and a half. We just have to keep going, keep working hard.”
Hernández is doing a lot of heavy lifting for the middle of the Dodgers’ lineup, but he’s unfortunately feeling some impact from Max Muncy being out. As is the rest of the offense, the batting order has dealt with uncertain results past the fifth spot.
The Dodgers are in a good place in the standings thanks to their pitching staff, but run production isn’t as easy when hits with runners on base aren’t coming.
How good has Teoscar Hernández been among big league outfielders?
Among MLB outfielders, Hernández ranks seventh in runs batted in with 38, with 16 of them coming in his last 124 plate appearances.
His keen ability to find a barrel is evident in his plate approach, which can also make him prone to striking out. But those qualities are reserved for his type of hitter, and why his homer to fly ball percentage (20.7%), ranks fifth in the league.
Point being, Hernández needs to elevate more and keep the ball off the ground. He nearly added two homers to his total on Tuesday, keeping him in a great spot at the plate.
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