Teoscar Hernández didn't have the best of starts in Game 1 of the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night.
Hernández looked like he misplayed a J.T. Realmuto hit to right field that turned into a triple and an early 2-0 Phillies lead. Harrison Bader followed that up with a sacrifice fly to put Philadelphia up 3-0.
But Hernández made up for that miscue. The ball did get by him in right field, but it kind of looked like he was jogging after the ball reached him.
Hernández desperately wanted a chance to get his redemption in Saturday night's game.
He got that chance. In the seventh inning with the Dodgers down 3-2, Hernández smacked a three-run home run that helped LA take a 5-3 lead. His big hit also ensured that Shohei Ohtani would get the victory as he recorded nine strikeouts.
It was a great game for Dodgers fans as the team makes its march toward, hopefully, repeating as World Series champions.
About that early play, though, Hernández was reflective about it after the victory.
"At the end of the day, for me," Hernández said, according to MLB.com, "anything that happened before a big moment like that, it's in the past. I try to put it in the trash and just focus on the things that I need to do in that at-bat and especially in plays on defense and just trying to help my team."
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called on Roki Sasaki in the ninth inning and he put the hammer down to secure the win. Sasaki earned his first career save in the appearance, securing a probable closer's role as the postseason rolls along.
"It felt a little different than every other win in the postseason," Miguel Rojas said, "because of how hard it is to play in this place and [overcoming] a lot of adversity of being down 3-0 and never out. Just credit to the guys. Never done, and fighting until the end."
Blake Snell gets the Game 2 start on Monday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.