San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill delivers a sincere opinion on Kike Hernandez's pitching technique.
In an unexpected turn of events, the San Diego Padres (38-28) slammed the Los Angeles Dodgers (40-28) with a bombastic display of offense on Tuesday, taking advantage of the Dodgers' depleted pitching crew and heading home with a 11-1 win. Monday's loss was swiftly avenged, with only one of those runs being a homer by Martin Maldonado. The night was filled with strange moments at Petco Park.
After Dave Roberts mercilessly left Matt Sauer on the mound for a grueling 111-pitch, nine-run relief outing, Kiké Hernandez stepped up to the plate — literally. Hernandez took the mound to help save the Dodgers' exhausted bullpen, stepping out under his pitching helmet and allowing one run on three hits and issuing two walks in an unprecedented 2 1/3 innings of work.
It wasn't a masterclass in pitching, but it was enough for Hernandez to carry the team to the game's end, preventing the Padres from causing further damage. Padres All-Star center fielder, Jackson Merrill, gave credit where it was due, showering Hernandez with lavish praise that left reporters laughing, scratching their heads, and asking if he was being sarcastic.
Saving the Pen, Evening the Series with a Powerful Showing
According to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN, Jackson Merrill declared, "Kiké Hernández threw me the nastiest cutter I've ever seen." The 2024 National League Rookie of the Year runner-up either has a remarkable wit or is sincerely enamored with Hernandez's performance. The Padres, for their part, are simply glad to have a game-changer like Merrill on their roster. Merrill played a significant role in the game, going 2-for-4 with an RBI triple and a run scored.
The relentless hurler, as Merrill described him, induced a ground ball to retire the 22-year-old in the seventh inning. Since the start of the 2025 season, Hernandez has made three appearances as a reliever, compiling a 2.08 ERA in 4 1/3 innings. A valuable addition to a ballclub plagued with multiple pitching injuries, his presence has helped to minimize the damage on disaster-stricken nights like this one.
Franchise legend Manny Machado continued to shine with a three-hit, five-RBI performance. Xander Bogaerts was the only other batter to drive in multiple runs (two), while three-time batting champ Luis Arraez notched two doubles and scored a team-high four runs. In front of a grateful home crowd, Dylan Cease delivered seven shutout innings and an impressive 11 strikeouts. Manager Mike Shildt watched proudly as his team delivered a complete effort.
With their confidence sky high, the Padres will aim to take the series on Wednesday when they face another unpredictable pitcher, Justin Wrobleski. The Dodgers and, apparently, Jackson Merrill, hope they can manage to avoid using Kiké Hernandez in this game.
Rumors of a potential MLB trade involving Kiké Hernández and the San Diego Padres’ offensive prowess are circulating, given his impressive relief performance against the Dodgers and the team's need for a reliable substitute for their injured pitchers. In the upcoming game against Justin Wrobleski, the Padres intend to continue their sports-analysis-defying winning streak, with players like Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill leading the charge.
