{"id":610991,"date":"2026-04-28T09:36:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T09:36:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/610991\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T09:36:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T09:36:13","slug":"kyle-tucker-collects-first-walk-off-hit-with-dodgers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/610991\/","title":{"rendered":"Kyle Tucker collects first walk-off hit with Dodgers"},"content":{"rendered":"

LOS ANGELES — Kyle Tucker<\/a> came to bat with theDodgers<\/a>down a run and the bases loaded in Monday’s ninth inning and delivered, lining a base hit up the middle to collect his first walk-off hit with his new team. But his joy was delayed.<\/p>\n

When Tucker reached first base, Shohei Ohtani<\/a> had yet to cross the plate with the winning run. Dodger Stadium had yet to erupt. For a brief moment, panic set in.<\/p>\n

“I was like, ‘Did I get the score wrong?’ Tucker said after sealing a5-4, come-from-behind victory<\/a> over the Miami Marlins<\/a>. “But afterwards I saw everyone running out and it got loud and everything so I was like, ‘OK, sweet, this is sick.'”<\/p>\n

Tucker joined the Dodgers on a four-year, opt-out-heavy contract that pays him a whopping $55 million in 2026, more than any player in the sport. But the first 4 weeks had been a struggle. He was dropped from second to fourth in the lineup. When this series began, his slash line stood at just .238\/.325\/.371. He was drawing walks and was often making solid contact, especially lately, but positive results were scant.<\/p>\n

The Dodgers’ hope is that this will get him going.<\/p>\n

“He needed it,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He needed a win. And he’s been grinding and trying to find some success and some good fortune.”<\/p>\n

The Dodgers went without an extra-base hit for the first eight innings Monday, but their offense came alive in the bottom of the ninth. Trailing 4-2, the Dodgers got back-to-back walks from Andy Pages<\/a> and Dalton Rushing<\/a>, setting up Ohtani’s ground-rule double into the right-field corner to cut their deficit in half.<\/p>\n

Marlins closerPete Fairbanks<\/a>exited because of a thumb injury after intentionally walking Freddie Freeman<\/a> to load the bases and Dodgers catcher Will Smith<\/a> struck out against Tyler Phillips<\/a>, bringing up Tucker.<\/p>\n

Tucker was hitless in his first four at-bats, but his last one resulted in a 103 mph lineout to right field. Against Phillips, Tucker fouled off a low splitter. When he got another one in almost the exact location, he sat on it a tad longer, sending it slightly to the right of second base for his fourth career walk-off hit — and first since 2023, when he was with the Houston Astros<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Later, when Roberts entered the interview room for his postgame news conference, he began with a question:<\/p>\n

“Did he smile?”<\/p>\n

Tucker, about as stoic and reserved as they come, smiled slightly as he high-fived Dodgers first-base coach Chris Woodward. His smile got bigger when Freeman wrapped him in a hug. And slightly bigger as the rest of his new teammates approached him in jubilation.<\/p>\n

“That’s nice right there,” Tucker said. “Any time I can contribute to the win, I’m happy for it. I mean the guys in this clubhouse, the coaching staff and everyone, has been great since I’ve been here. It’s been nice being over here.”br\/]<\/p>\n

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