Press enter or click to view image in full sizeTeoscar Hernández went 3-for-5 against the Giants on Saturday. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
by Megan Garcia
The Dodger offense came to life on Saturday. One of the at-bats responsible for the 13–7 win belonged to a resurging Teoscar Hernández.
Hernández’s RBI double put the Dodgers ahead in the fifth. It helped swing things the Dodgers’ way after the Giants’ four-run first inning against Clayton Kershaw.
As he stood on second base in the fifth, Hernández cracked a smile. He was on base for a third time in just his third plate appearance. This at-bat helped shift the momentum for the Dodgers as they roared back from a three-run deficit against starter Logan Webb.
“Some big at-bats all throughout the lineup,” Dave Roberts said. “The Teoscar at-bat, the (Miguel Rojas) at-bat, the Ben Rortvedt at-bat, there were some big ones all throughout the night. Up and down the lineup, really good stuff and against a really good pitcher. It was good to see us break outside and hopefully take that into tomorrow.”
Hernández’s second year as a Dodger hasn’t met the impressive offensive numbers he posted in 2024. His home run and walk rates have ticked below his career averages.
But his last handful of games have shown the old version of Hernández — the one with power and consistency.
Hernández has seven hits in his last four games, five being extra-base hits. Two materialized on Saturday. The most pivotal of his two RBI doubles against the Giants opened the door to a six-run fifth.
His line drive to right field gave the Dodgers a 5–4 lead. Michael Conforto’s sacrifice fly, Ben Rortvedt’s RBI double and Mookie Betts’ single extended their lead to 9–4.
The Dodgers sent 11 batters to the plate against three pitchers in the fifth.
“It feels good, especially if I put the team ahead,” Hernández said of his offensive performance. “That’s what is important … as long as the team is winning, that’s part of my job and that’s what I’m here for.”
Hernández finished 3-for-5 at the plate and three RBI. He was one of six Dodger hitters with multiple hits on Saturday.
This was Hernández’s 13th multi-hit, multi-RBI game this season. He’s batting .388 (7-for-18) in his last four games.
Ohtani hits his 49th homer
Shohei Ohtani climbed atop another Dodger list with his 49th homer on Saturday. The lone home run measured 454 feet to center field, the farthest hit home run by a Dodger this season.
It was also his 10th home run as a Dodger of 450 feet or more, four more than any other Dodger hitter in the Statcast era (2015).
Ohtani ranks second in home runs in the National League. Kyle Schwarber leads the National League with 51. Ohtani finished with three hits against the Giants on Saturday.
Smith placed on IL
The Dodgers placed Will Smith on the injured list with a right-hand contusion on Saturday, retroactively to Wednesday. Chuckie Robinson was recalled as the corresponding move.
Roberts said there hasn’t been improvement in Smith’s hand since he was hit by a foul ball on Sept. 3. Smith started in Tuesday’s game against the Rockies but hasn’t played since then.
He was scratched from Wednesday’s game after his right hand swelled up during pre-game warm-ups.