Teoscar Hernández Shakes Off Defensive Woes with Clutch Game-Winning Home Run for Dodgers

Teoscar Hernández emerged as an October hero for the Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting a game-winning three-run home run in the seventh inning to secure a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. This pivotal blast, which saw him "nearly levitate around first base," brought his postseason tally to three home runs and nine RBIs in three games this year, building on his three homers and 12 RBIs in 16 postseason games last year. His heroics followed an earlier defensive miscue in the second inning, where his play on a J.T. Realmuto hit allowed a triple instead of a single, contributing to two Phillies runs. Manager Dave Roberts commented, "that's a ball that you don't want Realmuto to have a triple," while Hernández explained he didn't get a good angle, though Roberts later credited him with a defensive adjustment on a Bryce Harper hit. Hernández, who has played right field all season, was signed last winter to a three-year, $66-million contract primarily for his hitting prowess, given Shohei Ohtani's role as designated hitter. After a challenging second half, Roberts had urged Hernández to "get in the fight" in September, even benching him once in August, which preceded his best monthly OPS (.769) since April. Hernández emphasized his mental approach, stating, "Anything that happened before a big moment like that, it's in the past. I try to put it in the trash." Shohei Ohtani lauded the home run as "a great moment."