MILWAUKEE (AP) — Teoscar Hernández watched a replay of that bizarre double play from the National League Championship Series opener only one time as the clip went viral across social media.
No further viewings were needed.
“I saw it once,” the Dodgers' outfielder said Tuesday, a day after Los Angeles overcame the 8-6-2 double play in a 2-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. “Once the play was over, I realized I just (messed) up. Just one of those things that you don’t have to see it over and over to realize that you made a mistake.”
Hernández earned some redemption Tuesday night by hitting a home run in the second inning of the Dodgers' 5-1 victory in Game 2.
In Monday night's game, Hernández walked to start the fourth inning. He was on third with the bases loaded and one out when Max Muncy hit a drive that appeared to be heading over the center-field wall.
Milwaukee’s Sal Frelick tried to rob Muncy of a grand slam, and the ball popped out of his glove and hit the top of the wall before the center fielder caught it in the air.
Los Angeles’ other runners scrambled back to their bases, thinking Frelick made the catch on a fly. Hernández still had plenty of time to tag up and score, but he hesitated and didn’t head home fast enough. Frelick threw to shortstop Joey Ortiz, who relayed to catcher William Contreras for a forcout at the plate.
Contreras then completed the double play by jogging to third base and forcing out Will Smith, who was on second when the play started.
“It was one of those plays that, if you would have asked me two days ago what would you do in this situation, I would say as soon as the ball touched the glove, I would go,” Hernández said. “But in the moment, I got blocked, I think, and there’s not an explanation. I just (messed) up. It’s that simple.
“I don’t think there’s going to be any explanation that is going to be accurate. I saw it when the ball hit the glove. I went. Then I saw it bounced off the glove. And I just reacted bad. Just one of those moments, you block your mind. But there’s nobody to blame but myself. And it happens."
Ortiz was asked Tuesday whether he had watched a replay and noticed anything that wasn’t immediately apparent at the time it happened.
“Sal did make a pretty funny face,” Ortiz said. “That’s all over the social media right now. … But, no, I’ve never seen a play like that. It was a pretty crazy play to be involved in.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Monday’s game that Hernández simply froze for a moment.
“Teo knows the rule. I think right there he had just a little bit of a brain fart, appreciating that when it does hit the glove, you can tag (up) there,” Roberts said. “But then he tagged, did it correctly, then saw he didn’t catch it, (and) he went back. That was the mistake. But he owned it. And after that, there’s nothing else you can do about it.”
On the official scoring, Muncy grounded into a double play on a 404-foot drive that never touched the ground. There had not been an 8-6-2 double play in the postseason over the last 35 years, the Elias Sports Bureau said. Those type of official scoring details are not always clear in records going back any further.
The most recent 8-6-2 double play in the regular season involved a ball hit by Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa to Cincinnati center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. in April 2004 — though that one ended with a tag at the plate.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Los Angeles Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández is out at home as Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras takes the throw during the fourth inning of Game 1 of baseball's National League Championship Series Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández is out at home as Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras takes the throw during the fourth inning of Game 1 of baseball's National League Championship Series Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández is forced out at home by Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras during the fourth inning in Game 1 of baseball's National League Championship Series, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Almost from the moment that Glenn Youngkin became Virginia's governor four years ago, the political world has wondered what's next for a Republican who seemed to keep one foot in the MAGA movement and the other in the party's traditional country club establishment.
He's still not ready to say.
Does he want to be president? “I’m focused on Virginia,” he said.
Does he want to lead the Department of Homeland Security? “I don’t play that game.”
What about another role in President Donald Trump's administration? “I have been incredibly focused every day on what we need to do to transform Virginia.”
During an interview with The Associated Press, Youngkin insisted that he's not looking ahead to after he's replaced by Democrat Abigail Spanberger next month. But there's little doubt that he's been preparing for a post-Trump future that has not yet arrived, leaving someone long considered to be a potential Republican star without a clear next move.
This past summer, Youngkin headlined annual party dinners in Iowa and South Carolina, early primary states that would be natural launchpads for a presidential campaign. The ex-Carlyle Group executive has a personal fortune that could fuel a candidacy, if he chose to pursue one.
“If Glenn Youngkin runs for president, I’m 100% in,” said Republican Delegate Israel O’Quinn, a longtime Virginia lawmaker. “I think he would make a fantastic president — if that’s what he wants to do.”
Others say he missed his opportunity.
“You can probably find some red sweater vests” — a sartorial signature of Youngkin — “on sale down at the thrift store for $1, and that’s on the record,” Democratic Virginia Sen. Scott Surovell said.
Youngkin quickly became a Republican to watch after defeating Democratic stalwart Terry McAuliffe in 2021. Trump was still lying low after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of his supporters, and some party leaders were eager to find another standard-bearer.
A politician who could energize the MAGA base and court swing voters in a purple state seemed like a promising possibility.
But by the time 2024 rolled around, Youngkin passed on jumping into the race. Trump steamrolled the competition on the way to the Republican nomination, then won a second term.
With Trump back in the White House, Youngkin has been a stalwart supporter. He embraced the administration's cuts to the federal workforce and other programs, despite its unpopularity among many Virginians who rely on neighboring Washington for their livelihoods.
Richmond-based political strategist Bob Holsworth described Youngkin as someone who went from “MAGA lite to full MAGA” in four years.
“He’s made this calculation: That’s where the Republican Party is, and that’s where it’s going,” Holsworth said. He added, “But at the same time, whether he can actually connect to the MAGA base, I think, is an open question.”
Alex Conant, a Republican strategist, was more confident about Youngkin's ability to straddle party factions in the future.
“If Trump’s political stock falls, the MAGA movement will still be important,” he said. “Youngkin has shown an ability to appeal to both Trump supporters and Republicans who are the first to fall away from Trump.”
Virginia governors aren't allowed to serve consecutive terms, giving them only four years to make their mark before it's time to decide what's next.
Youngkin tried to demonstrate political finesse as governor. He charmed donors with his private equity background and suburban-dad polish. In his office at a Virginia government building, Youngkin had Legos on the coffee table and a basketball prominently on display. Shovels from business groundbreakings lined the wall.
“Virginia is as strong as she’s ever been,” Youngkin said in the interview, nearly identically repeating what he had said to lawmakers this year. “Financially, she’s stronger than she’s ever been. Economically, there’s more opportunity than we’ve ever had, and we’re growing.”
But there were challenges along the way, including legislative stalemate with Democrats who expanded their control of the state legislature during Youngkin's term. The governor vetoed roughly 400 bills passed by the legislature, and Democratic lawmakers doomed many of his initiatives, such as building a new arena for the Washington Wizards and Capitals in Virginia.
Youngkin's relationship with Trump ebbed and flowed, too. In 2022, Trump mocked the governor's name on social media by saying it “sounds Chinese” and accused Youngkin of not appreciating MAGA support. They later appeared to reconcile, and this year the president described Youngkin as “a great governor, one of the great governors in our country.”
Youngkin returned the favor, saying Trump was “making America great again, and along with that, making Virginia great as well.”
But the embrace did not pay off politically. Youngkin's chosen successor, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, lost by 15 points to Spanberger last month. Republicans also lost 13 seats in the House of Delegates.
Democrats notched similar victories in New Jersey, demonstrating momentum they hope will carry them to a blue wave in the midterms.
Youngkin pushed back on the idea that Trump's agenda — and his support of it — contributed to the losses, arguing that the 43-day federal government shutdown “became a cacophony around everything” for voters.
He also rebuffed the idea that Trump's absence on the campaign trail contributed to Virginia Republicans' defeat. The president did not campaign in the state and didn't endorse Earle-Sears by name.
“He described her as an excellent candidate,” Youngkin said of Trump's endorsement. “He described her opponent as a bad candidate. He did two tele-town halls, which is one more than he did for me when I was running.”
Youngkin may not blame Trump for Virginia's losses, but some of Trump's most loyal allies have faulted the governor.
“Glenn Youngkin, you just ended your political career last night,” Steve Bannon's WarRoom posted on X following the November election. “You destroyed the Republican Party in Virginia for a GENERATION.”
He said Youngkin shouldn't have backed Earle-Sears, who once described Trump as a liability to the party.
Meanwhile, Virginia Democrats also credit Youngkin for their November victories, arguing he leaned too hard to the right while leading a purple state.
“I think he’s gonna look in the mirror and, and regret his embrace of all the MAGA nonsense,” said Surovell, the state Senate majority leader.
Follow the AP's coverage of Glenn Youngkin at https://apnews.com/hub/glenn-youngkin.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin gestures during an interview in his office at the Capitol Wednesday Dec. 10, 2025, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin gestures during an interview in his office at the Capitol Wednesday Dec. 10, 2025, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin gestures during an interview in his office at the Capitol Wednesday Dec. 10, 2025, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin gestures during an interview in his office at the Capitol Wednesday Dec. 10, 2025, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin gestures during an interview in his office at the Capitol Wednesday Dec. 10, 2025, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
