‘Shohei Who?’ Dodgers’ Kiké Hernandez Makes History With 2-Way Game

Kiké Hernandez made incredible baseball history on Saturday night during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 10-0 drilling of the Oakland Athletics.

Per OptaSTATS on social media, Hernandez is the only Major League Baseball player in the modern era to have three-plus hits at the plate and make a relief appearance in a shutout victory.

The third baseman went 3-for-4 with a double before taking the mound for the bottom of the ninth inning as a way to preserve the Dodgers’ bullpen. He allowed just one hit and had no walks and no strikeouts.

Hernandez only needed 10 pitches to get through the last half-inning of the contest. He landed five of his pitches for strikes and was interviewed after the game about his strong performance at the plate and on the mound.

Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA brought the comical side of Hernandez out when she asked if he was turning into Shohei Ohtani. Hernandez responded, “Shohei who?” before running off into the dugout.

While Hernandez had the spotlight late in the game. Newly acquired Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty had it early earning his first win in a fantastic debut for his hometown team.

It was the Dodgers’ third win in their last nine games.

The Burbank native gave the Dodgers what they needed to get back in the win column, pitching six shutout innings and racking up seven strikeouts and 16 swings and misses.

“I’ll take the time tonight and kind of soak it all in,” said Flaherty, whom the Dodgers acquired in a blockbuster deadline-day trade with the Detroit Tigers last Tuesday. “I’m just excited to be here and have a chance to help this team.”

Flaherty cruised through the first five innings and then worked himself into a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the bottom of the sixth. He escaped unscathed.

“It felt really good, Doc giving me the trust there in the sixth to find a way to get out of it,” Flaherty said.

“You learn what they’re made of pretty quick,” added catcher Will Smith. “Throw him in the fire, big situation, we’re up 2-0, but they were threatening. And he was able to get out of it.”

Flaherty’s dominance was encouraging considering how poor the pitching has been since returning from the All-Star break.

“For him to go six innings scoreless was a huge lift,” Roberts said. “If we’re expecting him to do what he expects into October, he’s got to be able to manage stress. And he did a fantastic job.”

Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

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