Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez took accountability for his mistake in the top of the fourth inning of NLCS Game 1 that led to one of the most wild double plays in MLB history.
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“If you would have asked me two days ago, ‘What would you do in this situation?’ I would have said, ‘Oh, as soon as the ball hit the glove I would go,'” Hernandez said on Tuesday. “But in the moment, I got blocked, I think. And there’s not an explanation.
“I just f—ed that up. It’s that simple.”
Hernandez said he didn’t see the ball hit the wall, and thought outfielder Sal Frelick bobbled it, so he ran back to tag up — which would have been a mistake either way since the base runner would be allowed to leave the base as soon as it touches Frelick’s glove. Hernandez admitted that he knows it was a mistake, and hopes it doesn’t happen again.
“Once the play was over, I realized I just f—ed up,” he said. “But now it’s just in the past. Hopefully it doesn’t happen anymore and the next time I’ll be ready.”
“There’s nobody to blame but myself,” he added, “and it happens.”
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The play in question occurred in the top of the fourth inning when the Dodgers had the bases loaded and one out. Max Muncy hit a 404-foot fly ball to center field that looked like it could have been a grand slam.
Frelick, the Brewers’ center fielder, made an incredible play to rob Muncy of extra bases. However, he didn’t catch the ball cleanly, and it bounced off the wall before going back into his glove.
The base runners would all be allowed to take off from their bases as soon as the ball hit Frelick’s glove. However, the confusion of the ball coming out caused Hernandez to scurry back to third base.
Then, Hernandez started running back home — but since the ball hit the wall before going back into Frelick’s glove, it was considered a live ball. That meant there was a force out at any base, and the relay got Hernandez in time after his mistake on the bases.
While the play cost the Dodgers at least one run in the moment, it didn’t end up coming back to bite them as they won, 2-1, to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Photo Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
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10 Responses
At least he owned it. Total bonehead mistake and luckily didn’t cost them the game.
I love seeing accountability, and yes, it’s a different story if they dont pull out the win. I am so happy he made up for it with his bat tonight!
Couldn’t agree more
Definitely would have been a much bigger issue had the Dodgers not won — but shoutout Blake Snell for immediately pitching a shutdown inning and not letting Milwaukee keep any momentum
IMO that was his second mistake of the inning. He should have scored on Tommy’s single earlier in the inning. Are the base coaches just for show in the pros?
I was screaming, ”RUN!!”, why in hell didn’t he?
He’s like a box of chocolates…..Never know what you are gonna get
There is another big blunder that everyone is missing. The runner on 3 nd should have gone to third,instead he got forced out by the catcher for out #3.
Thank goodness the Dodgers won the game. As for blame, definitely Teoscar’s (which he acknowledged). Should have remained on third until the ball was either caught or hit something (the wall, the ground) and then taken off immediately. But don’t blame him for not scoring on the earlier hit. He had to hold up to make sure he wasn’t hit by the batted ball. Smith? Him as well. No way he would have gotten thrown out at third if he’d tagged and taken off upon catch or non-catch. Even whomever was on first could have tagged and likely advanced. The third base coach? Maybe; maybe not. We don’t know what he was doing, what he was communicating to Teoscar.
I think that he unconsciously flushes every moment and anyone watching couldn’t figure out what was going on. He’s made these fubar’s before, he’ll make them again, he’s a good outfilder, not an elite outfilder but a clutch BAT he’s been! The third base coach should have taken some heat on that. I don’t recall him being that animated? He should have been all but on Teoscar’s back telling him exactly when to go!