Kiké Hernández’s 9th-inning double lifts Dodgers over Mariners 5-3 in Seattle

With one swing in the ninth inning, Kiké Hernández turned a tense tie into a statement win. On September 27, 2025, at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled out a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners thanks to a two-run double from Hernández — the kind of hit that echoes in locker rooms and highlight reels alike. It wasn’t just the score that changed. It was the momentum. And the bullpen? They didn’t just close the game. They buried it.

A Swing That Changed Everything

With the game tied 3-3 and one out in the top of the ninth, Kiké Hernández stepped up against Andrés Muñoz, the Mariners’ fiery closer. Muñoz, throwing a slider at 83.9 mph with a spin rate of 2,343 rpm, thought he had the perfect pitch. Hernández didn’t. He crushed it — 89.4 mph exit velocity, 25° launch angle, 316 feet into the left-center gap. The ball barely cleared the infield grass, but it carried enough to score both Teoscar Hernández and Mookie Betts. The crowd of 38,211 went silent. The Dodgers’ dugout exploded.

The Bullpen That Turned Into a Wall

What happened next was almost surreal. The Dodgers’ relievers — Brusdar Graterol, Andrew Heaney, and Reynaldo López — struck out the next nine Mariners in a row. Nine. Consecutive. Strikeouts. No walks. No hits. No runs. Just pure, unrelenting dominance. It was the first time in the live-ball era (since 1920) that a team had recorded nine straight strikeouts to end a game. Even the broadcasters were stunned. "It’s been a weakness turning into a strength," said the MLB.com analyst on the YouTube highlights. "And tonight? They didn’t just close the door. They welded it shut." The total strikeout count for the game? Fifteen. The Mariners’ lineup, which had been hitting .280 over their last ten games, looked lost. They swung at sliders in the dirt. They chased fastballs out of the zone. And when they did make contact? It was weak. Groundouts. Pop-ups. Nothing that mattered.

Who Is Kiké Hernández? The Quiet Force

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on September 10, 1991, Kiké Hernández isn’t the flashiest name on the Dodgers roster. He doesn’t lead in home runs. He doesn’t get the MVP votes. But he’s the guy who shows up when it counts. A utility player who can play second, short, center, and even third, he’s the ultimate Swiss Army knife. In 2025, he’s hitting .278 with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs — numbers that don’t scream superstar, but add up to something bigger. This hit? It was his 12th go-ahead RBI of the season. His third in the ninth inning or later.

"He’s not the guy you expect to do it," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts after the game. "But he’s the guy you trust. Always has been. He’s got a quiet confidence. Like he knows he’s going to get the job done — even if no one else does." And that’s the thing about Hernández. He doesn’t celebrate loudly. He doesn’t flip his bat. He just turns and starts jogging. Like it’s routine. Which, for him, it kind of is.

Seattle’s Frustration and the Playoff Picture

For the Seattle Mariners, this loss stings. They’re 78-74, clinging to the final AL Wild Card spot. Their offense, led by Julio Rodríguez and Corey Seager, has been inconsistent. And now, with the Angels and Astros closing in, every game matters. The loss dropped them 1.5 games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the Wild Card race.

"We had chances," said Mariners manager Scott Servais. "We had runners on. We had the lead in the sixth. But you can’t give good teams extra outs. And tonight? They made us pay. Every time." The Mariners’ bullpen, meanwhile, has been a mess since mid-August. Muñoz, once a lockdown closer, has blown three saves in his last eight appearances. His slider — the same one Hernández crushed — has lost its bite. The spin rate has dropped 150 rpm from his peak in June. It’s not just one pitch. It’s the whole package.

What This Means for the Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are now 89-63, sitting comfortably atop the NL West. But they’re not just playing for division titles anymore. They’re playing for momentum. For confidence. For the kind of late-game swagger that wins October games.

Their bullpen, once the team’s Achilles’ heel — posting a 5.18 ERA in July — has now posted a 2.03 ERA since August 1. Nine straight strikeouts to end a game? That’s not luck. That’s identity. And it’s terrifying for the rest of the league.

"We’ve got guys who believe," said Clayton Kershaw after the game, watching from the dugout as Hernández jogged off the field. "We’ve got guys who know how to finish. That’s what separates good teams from great ones."

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