Dave Roberts announces crushing Dodgers setback originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Dodgers rolled to another blowout win Tuesday night, piling up 15 runs against the Colorado Rockies while continuing one of their best stretches of the season.
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But despite the offensive explosion, manager Dave Roberts was left discussing an injury update that quickly overshadowed much of the night. Just two games after returning from a lengthy recovery process, veteran utility man Kiké Hernández is likely headed back to the injured list with a left oblique strain.
“It’s a bummer,” Roberts said after the game. “He’s missed a lot of time and worked hard to get back.”
Kiké Hernández’s return lasted only four at-bats
The timing could hardly be more frustrating for both Hernández and the Dodgers. After missing the first 53 games of the season recovering from offseason elbow surgery, Hernández finally returned to the lineup Monday and immediately looked comfortable back at the plate.
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Tuesday started even better. Hernández homered in his first at-bat against Colorado, then later doubled during a four-run fourth inning for Los Angeles. But after the double, television cameras caught him visibly uncomfortable while running the bases.
He exited the game shortly afterward. According to MLB.com, Hernández first felt discomfort during batting practice before Monday’s season debut, initially believing it was only minor tightness. He later admitted the injury became impossible to ignore once he began feeling pain while swinging, throwing and running.
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The emotional side of the setback was impossible to miss
Hernández sounded devastated speaking with reporters afterward. The veteran admitted he felt “pretty defeated” after spending months rehabbing just to suffer another injury almost immediately after returning.
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“I was embarrassed because it didn’t even happen in the game,” Hernández said. “It happened in BP.”
He also revealed part of the frustration came from knowing his activation cost another player a roster spot, only for him to potentially land back on the injured list after just four plate appearances. That reaction seemed to resonate with Roberts, who openly sympathized with Hernández after the game.
The Dodgers manager explained that Hernández had worked extremely hard throughout his recovery process and had brought immediate energy back into the clubhouse once activated.
The Dodgers now face another roster adjustment
The injury comes at a difficult time for Los Angeles because Hernández had recently stepped into a larger role while Max Muncy recovered from a wrist injury. Now, the Dodgers are expected to call up infielder Alex Freeland from Triple-A Oklahoma City to help fill the roster spot.
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There was at least some positive news elsewhere for Los Angeles. Shohei Ohtani also exited Tuesday’s game after being hit in the hand by a pitch, but Roberts indicated afterward that Ohtani still expects to make his scheduled start Wednesday.
The Dodgers continue overcoming injury issues
Even with another setback, the Dodgers continue finding ways to win. Tuesday’s victory marked Los Angeles’ fourth straight win and its 11th victory in the last 13 games. Mookie Betts homered twice in the blowout, while Andy Pages and Will Smith also went deep.
Still, Hernández’s injury served as another reminder of how quickly things can change during a long season. For a player who waited nearly two months just to return, seeing his comeback interrupted almost immediately made the postgame mood feel far different than the final score suggested.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
