Rollins hits game-winning homer in debut as a Dodger

Published Apr. 6, 2015 10:11 p.m. ET

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Jimmy Rollins stood on a blue coffee table near the end of the Dodgers clubhouse to conduct his first postgame interview on Opening Day.

He had just hit a game-winning, three-run homer in the eighth to lift the Dodgers over the San Diego Padres, 6-3. For Rollins, it was a great introduction to the city and fans, who summoned him for a curtain call.

He got the sports drink bath afterward, and all was good.  

And there was one of the new guys, Rollins, at 36 years old, perched atop a platform with cameras and reporters all around. Adrian Gonzalez made a short joke while he was up there. Rollins is 5-foot-8.

Rollins had quite a view, and looked majestic, but nothing must feel like the view of watching a soldout stadium of 53,518 on its collective feet cheering his actions after an eighth-inning home run to right broke a tie game.

"It was a lot of fun in a big situation, being able to come through and helping the team get the victory," Rollins said. "That's what you want on Opening Day, to get the 'W,' the first 'W' out of the way, get that left column rolling and not playing catchup from the beginning."

After the game, Rollins wanted reporters completely away from his locker and in the aisle of the clubhouse, even though it's standard operating procedure for reporters to interview athletes at their lockers. Rollins sat on a black leather couch until reporters complied.

After he was ready, Rollins met reporters where he said he would, stepped up on the coffee table and answered every last question, even stepping down from that perch when just a few reporters remained to answer all of those questions.

Reigning MVP and Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw left the game after six innings with the Dodgers trailing. He didn't figure into the decision.

"When Jimmy hit the homer, it was a sigh of relief for me," Kershaw said. "They gave me the 2-1 lead, and I wasn't able to hold it. A little disappointed with that, but you know what, we got some clutch hits. Howie (Kendrick) and Jimmy came up with some clutch hits. Adrian, too. It's fun to win on Opening Day."

He sure appreciated the curtain call too, but he didn't get chills.

"Nah. It was very cool, don't get me wrong," Rollins said. "I didn't even know it was there. C.C. (Carl Crawford) actually grabbed me and said 'hey man, they're still on their feet.' I was just doing my job helping my team win a ballgame. I wouldn't think anything more of it than that. Once I hit homeplate, my job is done." 

A job well done. 

Rollins singled in his first at-bat and was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI and one walk. Kendrick, the former Angel, had a good debut as well. He was 2-for-4 with 1 RBI and one run scored.

"I'm so happy he hit it," Kendrick said of Rollins' home run. "You want to be happy for the next guy."

There was an immediate connection with the new shortstop and new second baseman. Their chemistry is one of the most vital on a baseball team, and they're in sync.

"It's been very simple. He's a very good defender, plays well," Rollins said. "After about the first 10 double plays or so, it was like, this is nice. He can field the ball anywhere, he can throw from anywhere. He makes it easier on you, especially when you're going to the hole, you don't have to be perfect. All you have to do is get it to him and there's a good chance he'll turn it."

It took a while for Rollins to feel normal and comfortable in blue, but that's finally the case.

"I started to feel like a Dodger in a meeting we had when Mr. (Stan) Kasten (president of dodgers) get up and he started speaking about Dodger blue and the product we are. I finally let it sink in then. Fans were great in spring training, welcoming me and telling me how good I look in blue. It was like, whatever, I don't want to hear it. Then, I finally let it in. It was 14 years of, I can't say hate, but disliking everything about the blue and L.A. I had to let those walls come down. I'm all right now."

He was immediately happy to become a Dodger, especially with the long, drawn-out process that finally landed him in a trade. 

"I kept calling my agent because I didn't care what player they had to give up," Rollins said. "I just wanted to make sure I got to L.A. I was ready to make a move."

He made a bold move on Monday by hitting the game-winning home run.

It means a great deal in Los Angeles to get off on the right foot with fans. As former Dodger Matt Kemp knows all too well, the home fans can boo you if you're not producing here. 

"Everybody looks good with a win, honestly," Rollins said. "When you win, if you go 0-for-4 with 3 Ks, you're OK going into tomorrow. If you get that knocked out of the way early. Just mentally for yourself. No one looks bad in a win. You only look bad when you lose."

You can even stand taller in a win, especially when standing on a coffee table.

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