Dave Roberts’ decision to have Enrique Hernandez sacrifice bunt in the seventh inning backfired big time.
Down by a run with Yankees reliever Clay Holmes in trouble, Hernandez, one of the hottest hitters in the Dodgers lineup, laid down a bunt with runners at first and second and nobody out.
The play went according to plan, advancing both runners into scoring position with Will Smith coming to the plate.
But the inning went south from there for Los Angeles.
Smith popped out to shortstop on the first pitch, leaving it up to Gavin Lux to tie the game or give the Dodgers the lead.
Lux grounded out to second base, ending the Dodgers’ threat and keeping the score at 2-1 Yankees.
Baseball fans quickly took to social media, ripping Roberts for taking the bat out of Hernandez’s hands.
“Dave Roberts having Kiké Hernandez bunt gonna be one of those moments showcased on the Yankees World Series movie…” X user Joe Aranda wrote.
“I need to reiterate how stupid that bunt Dave Roberts just called for was,” Andrew Claudio of Knicks Film School wrote on X. “Holmes hadn’t thrown a strike & is mandated to stay in for 2 more batters, yet you gifted him an out with one of your most reliable playoff performers who already had a triple. So so so so so stupid.”
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“Why would you have your hottest hitter bunt ?????” @chrisoso44 wrote on the platform. “Dave Roberts in charge of the most talented team in history is just sad.”
