THIS DAY IN BASEBALL October 19: Dodgers ride Kiké Hernandez’ 3 HR, 7 RBI to 2017 World Series

Los Angeles Dodgers utilityman Kiké Hernandez has a knack for stepping it up in the postseason, and on this day in béisbol, Oct. 19, 2017, Hernandez pulled off some October magic with a home-run hat trick that sent the Dodgers to the Fall Classic for the first time since 1988.

Batting sixth and playing left in Game 5 of the NLCS, the San Juan, Puerto Rico-born Hernandez led off the top of the second with a home run to give L.A. a 2-1 lead against the Cubs, the 2016 defending champs. 

In the following inning Hernandez broke it open for the Dodgers with a grand slam, then capped the win with a two-run shot in the ninth for a final score of 11-1. 

The 3-for-4 day gave Hernandez 7 RBI, but teammates Justin Turner and Chris Taylor shared the NLCS MVP Award. The Dodgers would go on to lose to the Astros in the World Series in seven games.

Hernandez also had a clutch, game-tying pinch-hit homer late in Game 7 of the 2021 NLCS that helped send the Dodgers to the World Series.

Also on this day: In 2012, Tampa Bay reliever Fernando Rodney of the Dominican Republic is named the AL Comeback Player of the Year with 48 saves and a 0.60 ERA.

In 2024, right fielder Juan Soto sends the Yankees to the World Series when he launches a three-run homer in the 10th inning of Game 5 to beat the Guardians in Cleveland. New York would lose the Fall Classic to the Dodgers in five games.

 

TonyTheTiger, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; LatinoBaseball.com illustration