Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Edwin Díaz revealed how a timely mound visit from teammate Kiké Hernández helped him settle down during Friday’s 3-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.
Díaz entered the ninth inning with a two-run lead but quickly found himself in trouble. He walked two batters and hit another, loading the bases before Hernández approached the mound.
According to Díaz, Hernández encouraged him to stay aggressive and reminded him of his ability. “Keep going! You're the best pitcher in the world!... Keep going, we got you!” Hernández told him.
The words came during a tense moment at Dodger Stadium, with Milwaukee threatening to erase Los Angeles’ lead. Díaz responded by settling down and recording the final out to secure his seventh save of the season.
The performance was especially notable given Díaz’s difficult season. The Dodgers closer entered the night carrying a 10.66 ERA and 2.45 WHIP over 15 appearances.
Hernández did not make an impact offensively Friday, going 0-for-2, but his contribution from the mound visit proved valuable as Los Angeles protected an important victory.
The win also helped the Dodgers close the gap in the National League standings. Los Angeles improved to 74-49, moving within one game of the Milwaukee Brewers, who remained at 75-48.
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Yoshinobu Yamamoto played a major role in the victory, striking out nine over six innings as the Dodgers held Milwaukee to one run.
For Díaz, the save provided an important response after his recent struggles. For Hernández, the mound visit showed the value of a veteran teammate stepping in when a high-pressure situation demanded more than just pitching.
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