The Washington Nationals embarked on a youth movement after their fire sale at the end of the week. The likes of Luis Garcia, Carter Kieboom and Juan Soto have ushered in the future of the club. However on Sunday it was a 33-year old longtime minor leaguer Yadiel Hernandez who played the hero against the Chicago Cubs.
With the game 5-5 in the ninth, Hernandez crushed a walk-off home run to give the Nationals the win.
Hernandez reached down and got a 99-mph sinker from Manuel Rodriguez, sending it opposite field into the left field stands.
The walk-off blast was his second homer of the game and culminated a career-day at the plate. Hernandez finished the game with a career-high four hits, including a solo blast in the seventh.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, Yadiel Hernandez became the first Nationals player with four hits and a walk-off home run since Elijah Dukes in 2008. He also is the first player this season in MLB to have four hits and a walk-off homer.
Hernandez’s two homers offset the three home runs hit by Cubs’ Rafael Ortega. Ortega’s third blast of the game — a two-run homer in the eighth — tied the game up at 5-5.
But two is greater than three in Hernadez’s case. Hernandez is stating his case to get an extended look in the Nats’ lineup following their reset.
