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Dodgers Way Quick Hits: Yasiel Puig, Tom Koehler, Kiké Hernandez

By Michael Wittman

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 24: Enrique Hernandez #14 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch in the 16th inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 24, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 7-4 in 16 innings. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 24: Enrique Hernandez #14 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch in the 16th inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 24, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 7-4 in 16 innings. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /
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The Dodgers lost a tough extra innings game last night that went sixteen innings and ended on a walk-off home run given up by Kiké Hernandez. The Dodgers will have to bounce back quickly with as they have an early game today.

It’s not every day that you get to see a Dodgers’ position player pitch but that is what happened last night as the Dodgers went sixteen innings with the Philadelphia Phillies.  The Dodgers had a 4-1 lead until the seventh inning when Kenta Maeda got knocked out and the Phillies tied the game.  The Dodgers and Phillies traded scoring opportunities throughout the rest of the game until the Phillies finally ended the game on a walk-off home run by Trevor Plouffe in the bottom of the sixteenth inning.  The Dodgers will look to win the series today with Walker Buehler on the mound.

Other news…

Kiké Hernandez made his first big league appearance on the mound last night and Hernandez has now appeared at every position in the major leagues with the exception of the catcher position.  Maybe one-day Kiké will get his chance to catch if the Dodgers have another marathon game.

More from LA Dodgers News

  • The Dodgers were interested in Zach Britton and they reportedly offered Yasiel Puig in trade talks with the Orioles since they needed to dump salary if they took on Britton’s contract.  Britton is now a Yankee but the fact that the Dodgers were willing to include Yasiel Puig is a new development and something to watch closely as the trade deadline nears and the Dodgers have to get creative to stay under the luxury tax threshold.   Puig is expected to be activated from the DL on Saturday.
  • The Dodgers tried to make a Brandon Morrow type reclamation signing by signing Tom Koehler this last offseason but Koehler underwent shoulder surgery and is now out for the season.  That is one less arm the Dodgers can count on to return from the DL and another injury that could heighten the front office’s search for another reliever.

    • Pedro Baez was expected to be activated before today’s game and now with the marathon game last night the return of Baez is a welcome addition for a beleaguered bullpen.  Baez should be able to give the Dodgers multiple innings today along with Caleb Ferguson and potentially Rich Hill.

    Next: Are the Dodgers done shopping?

    • While Dave Roberts has gotten some flak for “throwing away” last night’s game he made the right call in letting Kiké pitch which ultimately led to the end of the game.  With Walker Buehler returning to the rotation today and his pitch count being strict, the Dodgers are not going to jeopardize his innings limit by extending him past five to six innings.  By refusing to use Hill and Ferguson last night, the Dodgers now have three pitchers in the bullpen today who can go two-plus innings.
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