SAN FRANCISCO – What a day for Gorkys Hernandez.
It started with the second batter up to the plate for the St. Louis Cardinals. After Madison Bumgarner struck out the leadoff hitter, Tommy Pham hit a deep fly ball to left center field. Hernandez ranged to his right, jumped, reached over the wall, and robbed Pham of a home run.
Hernandez said it’s not the first time he’s grabbed a ball heading over the wall.
GORKYS OMG — "Call a cop, cause someone just got robbed" pic.twitter.com/STwPzx3otn
— Ahmed Fareed (@FareedNBCS) September 3, 2017
“Fourth time I did it,” said Hernandez following the Giants’ 7-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. “I do it a couple times in Venezuela, two in the big leagues. One for Pittsburgh, and today.
“It’s just part of my job, to help the team with my defense. Recognizing that ball and try to jump into the wall…and the good thing is I catch it.”
That wasn’t the only impressive play Hernandez made on the day. He ran down and made a nice catch on a ball in the outfield with the bases loaded, as well as a couple more ranging, sliding catches in the outfield gaps.
“I’m trying to add up the runs that he saved us,” Bochy said Sunday afternoon. “That’s one of the best defensive games I’ve seen one player have, with all the plays that he made. He’s a gifted outfielder.”
The Giants now travel to Colorado for a three game series against the Rockies.