Dodgers Video: Kiké Hernandez Draws Balk For Walk-Off Win Vs. Rangers
Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of Clayton Kershaw’s first career no-hitter and for three innings, Zack Greinke himself was having a perfect night at Dodger Stadium. Shin-Soo Choo broke up Greinke’s perfect game with leadoff single in the fourth, and Rougned Odor followed with an infield single to erase any potential heartahce of Greinke throwing a one-hitter.
While Greinke lost his perfect game, he shutout the Texas Rangers over seven innings of work, collecting eight strikeouts along the way. Despite their right-hander putting them in prime position to snap their three-game losing streak, the Los Angeles Dodgers again struggled at the plate.
Anthony Ranaudo threw 6.2 scoreless innings, which was followed by similar efforts from Ross Detwiler and Tanner Scheppers out of the Rangers bullpen. After Kenley Jansen kept the game locked in a 0-0 tie by throwing a scoreless ninth, Keone Kela looked to send the game into extras.
That notion quickly appeared to be in danger as Kela walked Yasmani Grandal and Andre Ethier to put two on with no outs. Kiké Hernandez pinch-ran for Grandal and represented the winning run at second base when Alberto Callaspo stepped in to bat.
As Kela struggled with his control, Callaspo got ahead in the count ,but also failed twice to get a sacrifice bunt down. He swung on a full count and grounded into a 3-6-3 double play. Kela’s fortunes soon after turned against him with the slumping Jimmy Rollins to plate as Hernandez bluffed as though he was going to break from home and drew a balk.
The walk-off win was the Dodgers’ sixth this season, which matches their 2014 total. Additionally, it was their first time winning on a balk since May 31, 2010 when Casey Blake drew one against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Esmerling Vasquez on the mound.