The rally banana returned to Dodger Stadium as pinch-hitter Kiké Hernandez drove in the go-ahead runs in the bottom of the seventh and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied from a three-run deficit to defeat the Oakland A's 10-7 on Wednesday.
Hernandez turned the tables on the A's with a pinch-hit, two-out, two-run double to left-center to complete the comeback. It was only Hernandez's second pinch-hit this season as he was 1-for-8 entering the game.
"Anytime you can contribute and help your team win it's special," Hernandez said. "Today it happened to be me. It was a good team win."
The Dodgers avoided a four-game losing streak and continue to be the only team in the Majors not to have lost four or more games in a row this season.
After Oakland put up four runs in the top of the seventh against the Dodgers bullpen, Los Angeles countered with five-runs in the bottom half of the inning to recapture the lead.
Yasiel Puig went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs on his own bobblehead night. Puig becomes the first Dodger since Hanley Ramirez on April 30, 2013 to homer on his own promotional night.
"I need to talk to the Dodgers and see if they can have more bobblehead nights for me," Puig joked after the game. "Maybe my Mom can throw out the first pitch every night, it obviously helped."
Howie Kendrick went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and knocked in a pair as well.
Adrian Gonzalez hit an RBI double off the wall in centerfield with two-outs to keep the rally going and keep the Dodgers a half-game ahead of the San Francisco Giants for first place in the NL West.
"It was a big win for us," Gonzalez said. "We need to continue to win games and beat the teams we should beat."
Clayton Kershaw was originally slated to start the game, but was a last minute scratch with a sore hip. He is expected to start on Friday instead.
Starting in place of Kershaw was Mike Bolsinger who would have started Friday, or returned to the bullpen depending on what the Dodgers do at the trade deadline.
Bolsinger was not on his normal routine, nor was he expected to start when he got to the ballpark, but pitched well nonetheless, allowing just two runs on eight hits in five innings of work.
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Alex Guerrero started at third base for the first time since May 24th as Justin Turner continues to be out with an infection on his leg from an ingrown hair.
Joc Pederson and Jimmy Rollins swapped places in the lineup before the game, as Rollins returned to the leadoff role he started the season at. Pederson has struggled since the All-Star break, striking out 18 times with just one walk since July 14th.
Josh Reddick had his second consecutive three-hit game as the right fielder went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored.
Brett Lawrie brought a big bat to the game as the A's third baseman had a career-high four hits and was a triple shy of the cycle. Lawrie went 4-for-5 with a single, two doubles, a home run and four RBIs.
Game Notes:
J.P. Howell surrendered three runs in the top of the seventh inning, snapping his scoreless innings streak at 18. Entering the game, Howell had only allowed one unearned run all season.
Puig's mother, Maritz Valdez, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game.
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