With a trip to the World Series on the line for Los Angeles on Thursday night, Kiké Hernandez stepped up to make sure that the Dodgers wouldn’t need another game. The Puerto Rican utility man did it all last night, becoming just the fifth player in major league history–after Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, Adam Beltré, and Adam Kennedy–to hit three home runs in a playoff series-clinching game. Behind Kiké’s big bat, the Dodgers won 11-1 to end a 29-year World Series drought.
Hernandez’s big night on the diamond wasn’t just big for LA; it also translated to a big night for his homeland of Puerto Rico. According to NBC LA’s Michael J. Duarte, prior to Thursday’s Game 5 against the Chicago Cubs, Dodgers owner Mark Walter promised Hernandez he would donate $1 million in relief aid to Puerto Rico if he managed to make it on base twice during the game.
The Puerto Rican native hadn’t been on base twice in a game the entire post season but, with a good cause to play for, he managed to reach base four times Thursday night, rounding the bases three times. Now, Walter will put his money where his mouth is and donate to an island still in need of relief after Hurricane Maria.
That’s not all Hernández managed to do for his homeland last night, however; his own Youcaring relief fund went over its goal, earning $20K just on Thursday night. In recent games, Hernández has worn a Puerto Rico shirt before games to batting practice, hoping to bring attention to the plight of the island.
After the game, Hernández reflected on giving his homeland some hope in a dark time: “This is about the only thing they’ve got going on for them right now. For me to be able to give something for them to cheer about, even if it’s for three or four hours, however long this game was, that’s something I can’t put into words. And it’s part of the reason why I can’t remember much of this game.”
Hernández also spoke on his gratitude towards Houston Astros owner Jim Crane, for allowing his family to fly back from the island into the US on his plane. “My family was able to get out on that plane. My fiancee’s family, my entire family, was able to get out on that plane. Mr. Crane was extremely generous for him to do what he did. There was no reason for him to do all of what he did for my people back home. There are still some good people in the world, man. That is something I will always be extremely grateful for,” Hernández told reporters.
His family has since returned to the island and, after the game, Hernandez revealed to MLB Network that his mom texted him before the game to tell him that his family went to his grandmother’s house to watch Game 5 on a generator-powered TV. Hernández promised her that he’d hit a home run…he ended up hitting 3, and now his team is on the way to its first World Series since 1988.