WASHINGTON – Yadiel Hernandez rounded third base and then crossed home plate, where he was met by joyous teammates who had watched his bumpy introduction to the Major Leagues.
The 32-year-old outfielder from Cuba had just crushed a game-winning, walk-off homer in the last of the eighth inning here Tuesday night, downing the Philadelphia Phillies 8-7 in the nightcap of a doubleheader.
Hernandez, who went hitless in his first seven at-bats in the majors, was called back up to the Nationals after spending most of the summer at the alternate site camp in Fredericksburg, VA.