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Kiké Hernandez hits go-ahead double in 9th to lift Dodgers past Mariners, 5-3

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Kiké Hernandez hits go-ahead double in 9th to lift Dodgers past Mariners, 5-3
Sport

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Kiké Hernandez hits go-ahead double in 9th to lift Dodgers past Mariners, 5-3

2025-09-28 12:41 Last Updated At:12:50

SEATTLE (AP) — Kiké Hernandez hit a two-run, go-ahead double in the ninth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers struck out 15 Seattle hitters in a 5-3 victory over the Mariners on Saturday night.

Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz walked Michael Conforto and Alex Call to lead off the ninth. Both runners advanced on Miguel Rojas' groundout to first scored when Hernandez drove Muñoz's breaking ball down the line in left.

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Seattle Mariners' Jorge Polanco, right, celebrates with third base coach Kristopher Negron after hitting a go-ahead three-run home run that also scored Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Seattle Mariners' Jorge Polanco, right, celebrates with third base coach Kristopher Negron after hitting a go-ahead three-run home run that also scored Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Andrew Heaney throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Andrew Heaney throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Michael Conforto gestures after scoring off a wild pitch by Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Logan Evans during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Michael Conforto gestures after scoring off a wild pitch by Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Logan Evans during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Dalton Rushing (68) celebrates with Andy Pages (44) after hitting a two-run go-ahead home run that scored Miguel Rojas during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Dalton Rushing (68) celebrates with Andy Pages (44) after hitting a two-run go-ahead home run that scored Miguel Rojas during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Edgardo Henriquez pitched the ninth for his first save of the season. The Dodgers struck out the final nine Mariners hitters in order.

Muñoz (3-3) took the loss, and Alex Vesia (4-2) got the win after a scoreless eighth for Los Angeles. The Dodgers have won five straight.

Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing broke a scoreless tie with a two-run homer in the fifth inning off Seattle starter Logan Gilbert, but Jorge Polanco put the Mariners ahead with a three-run homer the very next inning off Andrew Heaney.

The Dodgers tied it again in the seventh when Michael Conforto scored from third on reliever Logan Evans' wild pitch.

Conforto led off the inning with a single, advanced to third on a basehit from Hernandez, and then scored when the ball flew past Mariners catcher Harry Ford to the backstop.

Hernandez’ double put the Dodgers in front for good and put a jolt into the sizable contingent of Dodgers fans in attendance.

The Dodgers extended their winning streak over the Mariners to 11 games. The Mariners last beat the Dodgers on April 19, 2021, at T-Mobile Park.

Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (10-2, 3.52) will make the final regular season start of his Hall of Fame caliber career on Sunday against Mariners RHP Bryce Miller (4-5, 5.53).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Seattle Mariners' Jorge Polanco, right, celebrates with third base coach Kristopher Negron after hitting a go-ahead three-run home run that also scored Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Seattle Mariners' Jorge Polanco, right, celebrates with third base coach Kristopher Negron after hitting a go-ahead three-run home run that also scored Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Andrew Heaney throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Andrew Heaney throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Michael Conforto gestures after scoring off a wild pitch by Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Logan Evans during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Michael Conforto gestures after scoring off a wild pitch by Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Logan Evans during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Dalton Rushing (68) celebrates with Andy Pages (44) after hitting a two-run go-ahead home run that scored Miguel Rojas during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Dalton Rushing (68) celebrates with Andy Pages (44) after hitting a two-run go-ahead home run that scored Miguel Rojas during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Police in Ohio's capital city said Wednesday that they have gathered enough evidence to link a man charged in the double homicide of his ex-wife and her husband in their Columbus home last month to the killings.

Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said in an Associated Press interview that authorities now believe Michael David McKee, 39, a vascular surgeon who was living in Chicago, was the person seen walking down a dark alley near Monique and Spencer Tepe's home in video footage from the night of the murders. His vehicle has also been identified traveling near the house, and a firearm found in his Illinois residence also traced to evidence at the scene, she said.

An attorney representing McKee could not be identified through court listings.

His arrest Saturday capped off nearly two weeks of speculation surrounding the mysterious killings that attracted national attention. No obvious signs of forced entry were found at the Tepes’ home. Police also said no weapon was found there, and murder-suicide was not suspected. Further, nothing was stolen, and the couple’s two young children and their dog were left unharmed in the home.

“What we can tell you is that we have evidence linking the vehicle that he was driving to the crime scene. We also have evidence of him coming and going in that particular vehicle,” Bryant told the AP. “What I can also share with you is that there were multiple firearms taken from the property of McKee, and one of those firearms did match preliminarily from a NIBIN (ballistic) hit back to this actual homicide.”

Bryant said that the department wants the public to keep the tips coming. Investigators were able to follow up on every phone call, email and private tip shared from the community to the department and some of that information allowed them to gather enough evidence to make an arrest, she said.

That work culminated in the apprehension of McKee in Rockford, Illinois, where the hospital where he worked — OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center — has said it is cooperating with the investigation. He has been charged with premeditated aggravated murder in the shooting deaths. Monique Tepe, who divorced McKee in 2017, was 39. Her husband, a dentist whose absence from work that morning prompted the first call to police, was 37.

McKee waived his right to an extradition hearing on Monday during an appearance in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court in Winnebago County, Illinois, where he remains in jail. Bryant said officials are working out details of his return to Ohio, with no exact arrival date set. His next hearing in Winnebago County is scheduled for Jan. 23.

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said Wednesday that the city doesn't prioritize high-profile cases any more than others, noting that the city's closure rate on criminal cases exceeds the national average. The city also celebrated in 2025 its lowest level of homicides and violent crime since 2007, Ginther said.

“Every case matters. Ones that receive national attention, and those that don’t,” he told the AP. “Every family deserves closure and for folks to be held accountable, and the rest of the community deserves to be safe when dangerous people are taken off the street.”

Ginther said it is vital for central Ohioans to continue to grieve with the Tepes' family, which includes two young children, and loved ones, as they cope with “such an unimaginable loss.”

“I want our community to wrap our arms around this family and these children for years to come,” he said.

This undated booking photo provided by the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, shows Michael David McKee, who was charged in the killing of his ex-wife, Monique Tepe, and her husband Spencer Tepe at their Columbus, Ohio, home on Dec. 30, 2025. (Winnebago County Sheriff's Office via AP)

This undated booking photo provided by the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, shows Michael David McKee, who was charged in the killing of his ex-wife, Monique Tepe, and her husband Spencer Tepe at their Columbus, Ohio, home on Dec. 30, 2025. (Winnebago County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Spencer and Monique Tepe's home in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos)

Spencer and Monique Tepe's home in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos)

This image taken from video shows Michael David McKee walking into the courtroom on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Rockford, Ill. (WIFR News/Pool Photo via AP)

This image taken from video shows Michael David McKee walking into the courtroom on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Rockford, Ill. (WIFR News/Pool Photo via AP)

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