Teoscar Hernández Accepts Blame for Dodgers’ NLCS Double Play

Game 1 of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers had plenty of drama. One wild sequence instantly carved itself into postseason folklore.

Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández landed right in the middle of a bizarre baserunning moment. That led to an ultra-rare double play—and, like clockwork, the replay exploded online. The Dodgers did manage to squeeze out a tight 2-1 victory, but Hernández’s hesitation stole the headlines.

A Bizarre 8-6-2 Double Play

This strange play went down in the top of the fifth inning with Max Muncy at bat. Muncy launched the ball deep into center, where Milwaukee’s Sal Frelick leaped at the wall.

At first, it looked like Frelick had made a highlight-reel catch. Actually, the ball smacked the wall and bounced into his glove—a blink-and-you-miss-it twist that set the stage for something wild.

Hernández’s Split-Second Hesitation

As runners scrambled, Hernández hesitated. He just wasn’t sure whether to bolt home or stay put.

Frelick hurled the ball to shortstop Joey Ortiz, who quickly relayed it to catcher William Contreras. Contreras tagged Hernández at the plate and then fired to third base, nabbing Will Smith for an inning-ending double play. They scored it as an 8-6-2 double play—a unicorn in baseball, and, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, something that hadn’t happened in the postseason for at least 35 years.

Viral Moment and Player Reactions

Everyone on the field knew it was odd. Ortiz admitted the whole thing felt unusual, and Frelick’s reaction just added another layer of entertainment for fans and folks online.

The clip spread fast, becoming a highlight thanks to the mix of athleticism and pure improbability.

Hernández Admits the Mistake

After the game, Hernández didn’t hide from it. “I messed up,” he said.

He explained he froze in the moment and didn’t need a replay to know he’d made the wrong call. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Hernández knew the rule but just had, in Roberts’s words, a “brain fart.” It was refreshingly honest—Hernández owned it, right there under the postseason spotlight.

Dodgers Still Keep Control of the Series

The double play could’ve swung the momentum, but the Dodgers hung on for the win. Steady pitching and some timely hits kept Milwaukee from capitalizing.

Maybe it’s a lesson learned for Game 2, but for now, the Dodgers stayed composed and got the job done.

Why This Play Matters

If you love baseball, you have to appreciate how rare this sequence was. An 8-6-2 play is something you see in youth leagues, not the postseason big leagues.

Watching one unfold in October? That’s just one of those reminders of why baseball’s unpredictability is so endearing.

Key Takeaways from the Play

Here’s what stands out from that moment, both strategically and mentally:

• Awareness and quick decisions matter just as much as pure speed on the bases.
• Outfielders can sell a catch and totally mess with runners’ instincts.
• Baserunners have to communicate to avoid ugly outs in big moments.
• Even pros can freeze up under pressure—nobody’s immune.

The Legacy of Postseason Oddities

I’ve covered baseball for 30 years, and moments like these really shape the sport’s lore. They sit right alongside those wild bloopers, jaw-dropping defensive plays, and weird scoring quirks that somehow turn into trivia gold years later.

An 8-6-2 double play hasn’t popped up in over three decades. That fact alone makes statisticians and fans lean in a little closer, searching for patterns or just enjoying the rarity.

The Dodgers get a sharp reminder—every pitch and every baserunning gamble counts in October. For Hernández, maybe it’s a memory he’ll replay, that flash of postseason nerves where instinct slipped, but the team still pulled through.

If you’re a baseball fan, this is why you never look away in October. You never know when you’ll witness something that twists history in a way nobody saw coming.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández says ‘nobody to blame but myself’ for his role in weird NLCS double play