By Jeff Stuart
It was the 10th inning of a 4-4 game on very hot Sunday afternoon, August 28, 2011 in Cincinnati. Chris Marrero had singled to start the inning and Jesus Flores, the catcher, also singled. Runners on first and second with nobody out. Manager Davey Johnson decided it was time for a bunt, and called for Livan Hernandez to pinch hit for Drew Storen, batting eighth.
Livan was an accomplished bunter. But since he was the next night’s starting pitcher, he was back in the clubhouse enjoying the air conditioning, watching the game on TV and charting pitches. He was not fully dressed. So there was a somewhat lengthy delay. I think Livan borrowed someone’s cleats,
Eventually he made his way to the plate. He missed the first pitch. He fishes his batting gloves out of his pocket and puts them on. He stabbed at the second pitch as well. He notices that his shoes are not tied, and takes time out to tie them. He takes a ball. Finally, he seems ready, and lays down a perfect bunt on the 4th pitch, advancing the runners to second and third. He goes laughing and gabbing halfway down the first base line. He looks down the first baseline at the bunt, like a father walking with his son. So proud. Mission accomplished, he returned to the clubhouse.
The Nats didn’t score, however. According to “sabermetricians” the bunt is a rather unproductive strategy. And in this case the SABR odds makers proved to be right.
Brian Bixler was walked intentionally to set up the double play. And that bit of strategy did prove productive because Ian Desmond lined out to short for an easy double play. In the 14th, Joey Votto hit a walk-off HR. So no Curly W in the books on that day. But after an off day, Hernandez returned to the field the next scheduled game at Atlanta, He tossed his 50,000th pitch during the course of that game, posting a 9-2 win for his 8th win of the season.
Livan was a good hitting pitcher. He hit 10 career homers had 64 RBI and batted .221 in 17 year career. That compares with the stats of two former Cuban pitching greats who played for the Senators. In 18 seasons Camilo Pascual had 5 homers, 81 RBI and a.205 batting average. Pedro Ramos hit 15 homers in 15 seasons.
Earlier that season, on April 28 in Washington, the resourceful Hernandez also laid down a bunt. This time he was the starting pitcher in a 4-3 win over the Mets. He was not a pinch hitter.
With the game tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the 4th, Michael Morse flied out. Desmond singled. Jerry Hairston singled him home and Pudge Rodriquez hit another single moving Hairston to third.
Hernandez’ bunt didn’t go as far down the first-base line as he wanted. So instead of trying to leg out the bunt, he struggled getting out of the batter’s box. By the time Catcher Josh Thole got past Hernandez, turned and tried to tag Hairston had already scored.
I’ve done that play before,” Hernandez told MASN’s Ben Goessling after the game. “This the way I do it — when the ball doesn’t go too far, you’ve got to wait, so the catcher doesn’t catch the ball fast and throw the people out more easily, or make the out at home plate. I did it last year, too, I don’t know if you remember it, but I do it last year and it happened perfect.”
“He delayed my path to the ball a little bit,” Thole said. “But I actually spoke to the home plate umpire about it. He said he didn’t see him slow up. I probably should have just taken the out at first base.”
Hernandez picked up the win, pitching eight innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits, with five strikeouts and a walk.
And even earlier that season there was still another featured bunt by Livan. On April 12 in Washington, he was the starting pitcher in a 7-4 win at Nationals Park.
With the score tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the 4th, Jayson Werth led off with a double. And with one out, Ramos doubled him home. Ramos moved to third on single by Lance Nix followed by a walk by Danny Espinosa and a single by Hairston. That brought up Livan.
Nix on was very much surprised by this Livan bunt. But Hernandez saw Ryan Howard of the Phillies playing back at first and pondered over Joe Blanton‘s first pitch.
“I know it won’t be a breaking ball, because the bases are loaded,” he said. “It’s going to be a fastball in the middle. He threw me a cutter.”
The bunt scored Nix with the 3rd and final run of the inning.
“I just reacted,” said Nix. “I thought he was going to try for the force at home.” As he bolted, Blanton scurried off the mound and scooped the ball, taking a glance at home plate, looking like he might try for the force. Uh, oh.’,” said Livan.
But Blanton turned away and threw to first, taking the second out of the inning and letting the Nationals take a 4-1 lead.
“I said sorry to Nix because I do it on my own, and it surprised a lot of people,” Hernandez said.
“It was a great bunt by him. He put that in a good spot where they couldn’t get it quick enough to get me. Fortunately, I made a good break on it.”
Last year, I missed five bunts in a row,” Hernandez said. “That never happened to me in my career. I feel so bad. I told everybody, ‘I’m trying, I’m trying.’ ”
This was the third successful squeeze bunt for the Nats in 10 games. On the mound Livan allowed one run – an opposite-field Ryan Howard home run – in 6 2/3 innings on seven hits, no walks with seven strikeouts. And he retired 18 of the first 22 batters he faced.
Hernandez played for 10 different teams in his MLB career. He will always be remembered not only for bunting, but for his defense. He pitched 7 full seasons without committing a single error, ranking 24th all-time in fielding percentage or pitchers. Of course his devastating slow hook curveballs that would not even get a speeding ticket were his greatest weapon.
In 1997 Livan was named the World Series MVP after going 2-0 in the series against the Indians, though he had a 5.27 ERA and struck out only 7.
Hernandez was the first Cuban defector to become an All Star. He is widely regarded as the man who ignited the rush of Cuban talent.
