How Kiké Hernández Reacted To Clutch Homer Off Ex-Teammate Kenley Jansen

Los Angeles Dodgers utility man Kiké Hernández has a good feeling he’ll hear from Boston Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen when he gets to the ballpark Sunday.

After all, Hernández got the better of his former teammate with the Dodgers and Red Sox in Los Angeles’ 7-6 walk-off win over Boston on Saturday at Dodger Stadium.

Hernández became the first player this season to homer off Jansen as his solo shot to begin the bottom of the ninth inning leveled the score and ultimately charged the right-handed relief pitcher with just his second blown save of the campaign.

“Honestly, if he did (say something) I didn’t hear it because the stadium was loud and I was kind of blacked out because it had been a while since I did something in a big moment in this stadium,” Hernández told reporters, per the Sporting Tribune’s Fredo Cervantes. “A little bit of a black out and enjoying the moment, but I’m sure he might have some words tomorrow.”

Hernández spent six seasons playing alongside Jansen in Dodger blue before the two reunited for less than a full season with the Red Sox due to Boston trading Hernández to Los Angeles at last year’s trade deadline.

Hernández has struggled during his second stint with the Dodgers and began the game on the bench before coming in for Gavin Lux in the bottom of the seventh. His homer off Jansen wasn’t his only clutch moment of the game. Hernández also delivered another key hit in the bottom of the 10th when he recorded an RBI single to tie the game again.

But coming through against a former teammate and friend certainly will be a memorable moment for Hernández, who faced a 2-2 count before going yard.

“I was like a fan. Just fanning, swinging and missing through pitches first at-bat up to that point and I was able to make contact,” Hernández said. “And after that, it’s just compete mode.”