MILWAUKEE – Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández only needed to see the replay once of the unusual double play that went viral on social media during the first game of the National League Championship Series. No further revisions were needed.
Hernández, after getting a walk in the fourth inning, was on third with the bases loaded and one out when Max Muncy hit a ball that seemed destined to go over the center field fence. Sal Frelick of Milwaukee tried to steal the home run, but the ball escaped his glove and hit the top of the fence before the center fielder caught it in the air. Los corredores de Los Ángeles regresaron a sus bases para hacer el “tag up”, creyendo que Frelick había hecho la atrapada. Hernández aún tenía tiempo suficiente para anotar, pero no corrió hacia home con la velocidad necesaria. Frelick lanzó a Joey Ortiz, quien relevó al receptor William Contreras para la jugada en el plato. Contreras completed the double play by heading to third base and forcing the out of Will Smith, who was on second when the play began.I saw it once, Hernández explained on Tuesday, a day after Los Angeles won 2-1, overcoming the 8-6-2 double play. Once the play was over, I realized I had messed up. It’s one of those things you don’t need to see over and over again to realize you made a mistake.
Teoscar Hernández
Ortiz, when asked on Tuesday if he had seen the replay, noticed something that was not evident at the time. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Monday’s game that Hernández simply froze. Muncy was credited with a double play on a 404-foot hit that never touched the ground. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, there hadn’t been an 8-6-2 double play in the postseason in the last 35 years. Those official scoring details aren’t always clear in previous records. The most recent 8-6-2 double play in the regular season involved a hit by Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa to Cincinnati center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. in April 2004, although that ended with a play at the plate.It was one of those plays that, if you had asked me two days ago what I would do in this situation, I would have said that as soon as the ball touched the glove, I would go, commented Hernández. But at that moment, I think I froze, and there is no explanation. I just messed up. It’s that simple.
Teoscar Hernández
