After a triumph over defending champions Chicago Cubs, the Los Angeles Dodgers are back in the Major League Baseball Final for the first time since 1988. Kike Hernandez was the man of the day with three homeruns.
Chicago/Cologne (SID) Grandma and grandpa Hernandez started the generator again in Puerto Rico. The TV is no different, but the effort was worth it: they witnessed their grandchild delivering the game of his life. Kike Hernandez made sure that the Los Angeles Dodgers are back in the Major League Baseball (MLB) final for the first time in 29 years.
Hernandez was the unlikely hero of the decisive 11-1 win over titleholder Chicago Cubs in the famous Wrigley Field. Three homeruns, including a Grand Slam, reached the outfielder on the biggest day of his career so far. L.A. won the play-off semi-final 4:1.
Everything fit that night. Shortly before the game, I wrote to my mother and asked where she was watching the game. She replied that she was going to the grandparents,”said Hernandez:”We won all the games when she was there.” The series stopped.
Most recently, Los Angeles reached the World Series in 1988, when the former Brooklyn Dodgers won their sixth title. The final will be played against the Houston Astros or the New York Yankees on Tuesday. The record champion from the Big Apple will lead the American League’s semi-finals 3:2.
For Hernandez, the day in Chicago was a very special one in many ways:”I’ve had a lot of things going around in my head,”said the 26-year-old,”I wanted the game to end quickly so that I could hug my father. At first, I didn’t care about anything else. I wouldn’t be here without him.”
Enrique Hernandez Sr., scout for league rival Pittsburgh Pirates, has been seriously ill lately.”He has kicked the cancer’s ass,”said the son,”it’s all very emotional for me. Hernandez thought of his dad and Hurricane Maria, the storm hit Puerto Rico hard.
Hernandez made his homeland proud in difficult times with an extraordinary achievement. He is only the tenth professional to win three home runs in a play-off game. The icing on the cake was the Grand Slam – a shot in the stands, where all bases are occupied and scoring four points.
The bull’s-eye in the third inning ensured the 7-0 lead. The Cubs, last year’s World Series winners after 108 years of waiting, did not recover,”We not only beat the champion,”said Hernandez proudly:”We did it in an empty stadium. We broke the hearts of their fans, they left early.”
Pitcher Clayton Kershaw was thrilled:”World Series, that sounds good,”said the 29-year-old, who has already won the Cy Young Award three times as the best MLB throwing team.
Kershaw is playing for the Grand Prix, not least because of Hernandez. The man of the day was also successful because he didn’t listen to his mother,”she said,” I should just try to hit the ball. But who wants that? Everybody wants homeruns.”