Heriberto Hernández homers twice in victory

Hernández hit two home runs on Sunday and then was not in the lineup on Tuesday as the Marlins struggle to deal with their outfield surplus. Hernández has started mainly against lefties, with Griffin Conine and/or Owen Caissie heading to the bench, which makes sense because Hernández has been far better against lefties, with an .870 OPS compared to a .739 mark against righties. On Wednesday, it will be Conine on the bench despite the Marlins facing right-haner George Kirby.

Hernandez did his damage off of A’s right-hander Jack Perkins in the opening inning, with his 414-foot (102.0-mph EV) three-run shot giving the Marlins a 5-0 lead before an out had been recorded. The 26-year-old outfielder also singled in the ninth inning. With his two-hit attack, he’s now hitting .223/.296/.413 with nine long balls and 32 RBI on the season.

Ruiz has now been on the bench for two straight games as Heriberto Hernandez, Owen Caissie, and Jakob Marsee start in the outfield. This was always part of the risk when Griffin Conine came back from the injured list and filled the designated hitter spot. It seems like Ruiz will be limited to mostly starting against left-handed pitchers and pinch running for the time being.

It would be easy to say that it’s because the Rangers are starting a left-handed pitcher, but Tyler Alexander is just the opener for Kumar Rocker. Caissie has hit .171/.265/.439 in 15 games in Juene with three home runs and 11 RBI, but a 30.6 percent strikeout rate. With Griffin Conine returning on Sunday, the Marlins DH spot is full, so Caissie, Jakob Marsee, Heriberto Hernandez, and Esteury Ruiz will have to split time between the three outfield spots. Hernandez has a 160 wRC+ in June, and Ruiz has a 242 wRC+ in just 39 plate appearances, but has earned more time. That may mean more days off for Caissie.

Hernández drew a walk in the first inning, then highlighted a four-run fourth inning with a two-run homer off Matt Gage. The 26-year-old outfielder is hitting .233/.302/.404 with seven homers, 15 runs scored, and 28 RBI across 162 plate appearances. Hernández is getting more regular playing time, starting in seven of the team’s last eight games.

The 26-year-old outfielder opened the scoring in the ballgame with a 403-foot (104.4-mph EV) solo shot off of Paul Skenes to open the second inning. That would be his lone hit in four at-bats on the afternoon. For the season, Hernández is now hitting .237/.308/.397 with six homers, 26 RBI and five stolen bases across 146 plate appearances.

Hernández’ two home runs give him five this year. He hit a solo shot off Miles Mikolas in the fifth inning and a two-run shot off Mitchell Parker in the ninth inning. Hernández moved into the leadoff spot Tuesday after homering in Monday’s game, giving him three home runs already this week. The Marlins might want to stick with him at the top of the order for now.

Hernández gets a look atop Miami’s lineup after homering during Monday’s series opener. The 26-year-old has homered twice in his last seven games and has three round-trippers and five steals through 36 games this season. It’ll be interesting to see if the Marlins continue to give him opportunities near the top of the order. Liam Hicks, who has typically hit first or second recently, is batting sixth with Washington utilizing lefty opener Richard Lovelady ahead of veteran righty Miles Mikolas on Tuesday night.

Hernández entered the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and hit a single. In a tied game in the ninth inning, he came up with the bases loaded and one out and hit a walk-off grand slam off Mets closer Devin Williams. Hernández is still hitting just .193 with little power in limited at-bats for the Marlins.

Hernández capped off a three-run uprising in the eighth inning with a two-run single that made it a 5-2 ballgame. With his two-hit effort, the 26-year-old outfielder is now hitting .169/.289/.197 with zero homers, 11 RBI and three stolen bases in his 83 plate appearances.