It was fitting that Kiké Hernández had a standout game on a day when former Lakers star Kobe Bryant was honored at Dodger Stadium.
Fans wore special jerseys celebrating Bryant, and Hernández—who wears No. 8 for the Dodgers—made a key defensive play and hit a home run in the fifth inning of a 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
Hernández, who chose No. 8 because Bryant was his favorite player, said, “When these days are happening and I’m wearing No. 8, I feel like not a lot of things can go wrong.”
Fans received black Dodgers jerseys with No. 8 on the front and No. 24 on the back, trimmed in gold with a “KB” patch on the sleeve.
Before the game, 7-year-old Bianka Bryant threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and 5-year-old Capri Bryant did the “It’s time for Dodger baseball” announcement while Vanessa and Natalia Bryant watched.
Sunday wrapped up a weekend of events honoring the Lakers and Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash with Gigi Bryant and seven others in January 2020.
Manager Dave Roberts said, “Kobe loved baseball. So for the relationship with the city and the Lakers and the Dodgers, to keep that flame burning is great. With the family here was awesome and to see those jerseys was fun.”
In the top of the fifth, with a runner on first, Hernández made a significant defensive play by catching a fly ball near the wall in left-center, robbing Tampa Bay’s Ben Rortvedt of an extra-base hit.
Then, in the Dodgers’ fifth inning, Hernández led off by hitting a cutter from Jacob Lopez just over the wall in left-center.
Hernández said, “I was able to enjoy the moment and put a good swing on the ball. To do it in front of the Bryant family here today was pretty special.”
