Maybe it was the heat.
Tyler Thornburg walked pinch-hitter Yasmani Grandal with the bases-loaded in the bottom of the ninth and the Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 on a walk-off walk in the sweltering heat on Father's Day at Dodger Stadium.
Temperatures reached triple digits on the field as reportedly the Los Angeles area received record high heat before the official start of summer began.
"It was a hot day," Dodgers' starter Kenta Maeda said of the record temperatures at game time. "Thankfully, it didn't effect my performance. I've pitched in hotter conditions than this in Japan before."
On the field, the Dodgers' bats were anything but hot as the Brewers kept the LA offense mostly contained less than 24 hours after they scored 10 runs on 14 hits.
"We had a hard time getting runs across or getting anything going today," Dodgers' catcher A.J. Ellis said. "It was a grind, but we got enough and we're finding ways to win which is important."
Veteran right-hander Matt Garza led the charge for Milwaukee throwing six scoreless innings in just his second start of the season.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
Garza allowed no runs on five hits with two strikeouts in six strong innings, lowering his ERA to 0.90 on the season.
"Garza was great," Ellis said of the Brewers' starter. "He was really strong, used both sides of the plate, he was tough, that's why he's such a talented pitcher."
Enrique Hernandez tied the game with the first pinch-hit home run of his career in the bottom of the eighth inning and the Dodgers completed the comeback in the bottom of the ninth.
"Once I tied the game, everybody said 'it's really hot can you please score another one, we don't want to play extra-innings," Hernandez said. "Sure enough we did."
Hernandez was near tears as he rounded the bases, thinking of his father, Enrique senior, who is currently battling cancer.
"As soon as I hit it, I had goosebumps in my entire body," Hernandez said after the game. "It was a little bit hard not to cry while running the bases. I woke up this morning and I was thinking...if I get a pinch-hit at-bat...it's kinda like a movie...I'm sure my dad loves every bit of it."
Adrian Gonzalez started the rally with a one-out single and Trayce Thompson followed with a single of his own. Scott Van Slyke entered into the game to pinch-run for Gonzalez at second, but Thornburg (3-2) lost control, walking Howie Kendrick and Yasmani Grandal to give LA their fourth walk-off victory of the season.
Scooter Gennett scored the only run for the Brewers in an impressive seven-pitch at-bat that ended in a solo home run to center field off Kenta Maeda.
"I was trying to locate my pitches, especially with a two-strike count," Maeda said through an interpreter. "I wasn't able to locate one of my pitches and it ended up being a home run."
Other than the one mistake, Maeda was dazzling for the Dodgers on Father's Day. The Japanese right-hander allowed just one run on six hits in six and 1/3 innings of work.
"We were losing when I came out of the game, but the bullpen did a great job and we came back to win," Maeda said of the outing. "Overall, I think it was a good day."
Dodgers' closer, Kenley Jansen worked a perfect ninth inning, earning his third win of the season.
Meanwhile up north, San Francisco won their eighth consecutive game, leaving the Dodgers still trailing by 6.5 games in the National League West Division.
Players of the Game:
Matt Garza: 0 runs on 5 hits with 2 strikeouts in 6 IP.
Kenta Maeda: 1 run on 6 hits with 8 strikeouts in 6.1 IP.
Enrique Hernandez: Game-tying solo homer.
Three Takeaways:
1. This One's For You, Dad: Los Angeles Dodgers' super-utility player, Kiké Hernandez shaved his head last week as a tribute to his father, Enrique Hernandez Senior, who is currently undergoing treatment for his battle with cancer. The home run ball Hernandez hit landed in the Dodgers bullpen, and the team saved it for Kiké who said he was going to give it to his dad.
Kike Hernandez holding back tears running around the bases on his game tying home run...Thinking of his father who is fighting cancer! — John Bleednblue (@BleednblueJohn) June 19, 2016
2. Boxers or Briefs: The Los Angeles Dodgers handed out free boxers to all everyone in attendance in celebration of Father's Day. I guess we will now know the answer for Dodger fans to the age-old question: Boxers or briefs?
thanks for the free boxers @Dodgers #HappyFathersDay pic.twitter.com/X8KSsfd8jc — mykhala stillings (@myk_stillings) June 19, 2016
3. Comeback Kids: The Los Angeles Dodgers came from behind five different times during the four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers, including three separate three-run deficits.
One more thing to remember from this series: Dodgers rallied from five deficits in four games to win three. — Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) June 19, 2016
Up Next:
Brewers (31-39): Milwaukee has an off day on Monday before heading to Oakland to face the Athletics.
Dodgers (38-33): Clayton Kershaw takes the mound on Monday opposite Stephen Strasburg in a marquee matchup of 10-win pitchers. Game time is scheduled for 7:10 PM PST.
