Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández may not be the flashiest guy in Dodgers manager Dave Roberts‘ (almost) everyday starting lineup, but he unquestionably is among the most clutch.
Teo did it again in the Dodgers 7-5 win over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday evening in front of a packed Dodger Stadium crowd of 52,028 in Game-1 of the 2024 National League West Division Series. The 31-year-old Cotui, Dominican Republic native roped a fourth-inning two-out single to right off of Padres right-hander Jeremiah Estrada to drive in the Dodgers (then) game-tying fifth and (eventual) game-winning sixth runs.
But as Dodger fans have come to expct and appreciate, it was international superstar Shohei Ohtani who once again (and understandably) received most of the accolades, with his dramatic second-inning three-run home run to right field to turn a 3-0 Padres lead into a 3-3 tie.
Don’t stop now, guys.
Play Ball!
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Great win. Teo great again.
I shut off the TV volume and listened to the Dodger radio broadcast of the game
With the TV on. Smoltz and Joe Davis never shut up for a second or two, it gets tiresome.
Need Jack F to turn in a great 6 tonight.
That’s what I do every game. Rick and Tim are the best.
I started doing it last week against the Padres. Padres broadcast unlistenable.
That was AMAZING! I was unable to watch the first 3 innings (videod Shohei’s HR, watched it over and over, it is an elevated fast ball and he sends it to where it ain’t coming back!). I was on literally sweating out the last two innings; Machado striking out with runners on in the 8th and in the 9th to end the game? If you were not sweating then you really don’t know what Machado is capable of doing. How did Treinen have the toughness to keep going? Mentally I think he was exhausted, physically he was still throwing in the upper 90’s. We are truly grateful that he is going to get today and tomorrow off. Still high on Kopech; he will figure it out, he better! What a bullpen game, from Brasier to Vesia to Phillips to Kopech to Treinen, we all owe them a lot for shutting down one of the best offenses in the game. Lux making that diving grab in the 9th, we can go on and on about the incredible game by the boys in blue. Freddie with a stolen base, wait what? I have had an ankle sprain like his and it is for sure that the adrenalin takes over. Every player on the Dodgers has something special. At may age, I hate to admit it, but these guys are the same age as my children and not too far off the age of my grandchildren, I want them to win so badly, they work so hard and give so much; true grit and determination. Finally, well not finally, but I have to stop somewhere, Teo bangs out a two run single to get the lead, a game of inches; that ball landed 12 inches in front of Merrill, another foot and the inning is over.
Now for today. SBD is spot on; Jack Flash needs to get us to the 7th, hopefully with a three or more run lead, then we can let the bullpen studs get a bit of a break. Maybe an inning from the rookie, Banda and Hudson. If a big enough lead, maybe turn it over to Grove for three. I believe that Mookie breaks out of his playoff hitless string although 3 walks yesterday is like three hits, maybe he gets a hold of something that he can take to the house. Does anyone else think that Shohei is not going to see much of anything to hit? If I am the Padres, I take my chances with anybody not wearing number 17 on the Dodgers. I am wondering if Kike gets a chance today, he was pretty hot the last few weeks of the season; although he has never faced Darvish. Buckle up sports fans, today’s game should be one heck of a ride!