The Dodgers clinched the NLCS berth in a manner that sent chills running through our spines. In the bottom of the intense 11th inning, Andy Pages slammed a comeback hit from the Phillies’ reliever Orion Kerkering. Kerkering visibly panicked as he threw to home instead of going to first base. His throw passed the plate, and that allowed pinch-runner Hyeseong Kim to score the Dodgers’ winning run. Too thrilling for words!

However, beyond all adrenaline highs, Teoscar Hernández delivered one of the most frustrating at-bats of the season in the Dodgers’ 2-1 win over the Phillies on Thursday night.

Facing Jhoan Duran, who was clearly struggling to find the strike zone, Hernández swung at three of four pitches, all balls, and ended up killing a golden scoring opportunity.

Duran faced Mookie Betts with the score tied at 1-1. While the Phillies pitcher evidently struggled with his command, he ultimately ended up walking Betts on a soaring 101-mph four-seam fastball.

Following Betts’ walk, Teoscar Hernández came to the plate.

He had a chance to drive in runs and potentially take the lead. Yet, instead of capitalizing on Duran’s apparent lack of command, having just walked Betts, Hernández took four straight balls before striking out on a knuckle curve.

The Dodgers had a prime chance to take the lead, but instead, they headed into the eighth inning locked at 1-1. Then, it stretched to 11 innings, all while fans couldn’t help but replay Hernández’s decision to go hero mode with the bases loaded. While they advanced to the NLCS, Dodger fans weren’t pleased with Hernández’s struggles at the plate.

Dodgers fans disappointed by Teoscar Hernández’s at-bat

Expressing real-time frustration, a fan noted, “11 innings and counting because Teoscar Hernandez decided to play hero ball with the bases loaded against a guy struggling to throw a single strike. Just painful, man.” It was nearly annoying for fans to watch Hernandez swinging aggressively with bases loaded against a control-struggling pitcher. It prevented what would have been an easy walk and prolonged the game further.

Considering the tight scoreline, another fan quipped, “That Teoscar Hernandez at bat is HORRIBLE. Guy plays like he lacks a brain; it’s infuriating. Duran didn’t throw him a single strike.” Apparently, Duran was easily able to escape the trouble with only one run scored. When with two outs and the bases loaded, Duran walked Mookie Betts. It allowed the tying run to score, which was ultimately good news for the Phillies that Duran struck out the next hitter, Teoscar Hernandez.

It ended the inning, and it also marked the first time in Duran’s major league career that he had walked a batter with the bases loaded, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic. The frustration only got louder. “My god, what a horrific AB from Teoscar Hernandez… swung at 3 straight balls that weren’t even close to the strike zone. He just lost the game and I think the series,” another fan noted mid-game.

Then, there were ones who couldn’t stand him making the silliest swings. “Teoscar Absolute Disaster Hernandez.”

“Teoscar Hernandez would have walked if he didn’t swing at any pitch. What a waste of an opportunity. 🤬” Another fan stated. Hernandez saw four balls, and he swung at three of them. The Dodgers had a chance to take the lead. Instead, they’re tied at 1 going into the 8th, wasting an ideal opportunity to capitalize. It made sense when Dave Roberts said, “It was a war. It was a battle.” Because the whole hustle was visible.

But the mid-game vents from Dodgers fans over Teoscar Hernandez’s plate performance ultimately said it all!