Manager’s nightmare: Dusty Baker watches game-tying HR during live interview

HOUSTON — Dusty Baker may stay off the microphone when Game 2 of the American League Championship resumes Saturday in Houston.

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The Houston Astros manager was conducting an interview live on Fox Sports while enjoying a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning against the Boston Red Sox in the opening game of the best-of-seven series. That lead evaporated in mid-sentence when Boston’s Kiké Hernandez crushed a game-tying home run, USA Today reported.

Baker, 72, muttered “Oh, Lord,” as Hernandez hammered Framber Valdez’s pitch deep into the stands at Minute Maid Park to tie the game and spark a three-run outburst by the Red Sox.

“I blame Fox for that,” Baker said after the Astros rallied for a 5-4 victory. “Because invariably, when you are doing it live something usually always happens.

“My mom is watching the game, so -- really, I think I said, ‘Oh, God.’”

Baker kept his composure and continued to speak, albeit sparingly, with Fox play-by-play announcer Joe Buck.

“This ball is up, and out!” Buck said.

“Yeah, way out,” Baker answered. “He hung a breaking ball, and he usually doesn’t do that.”

“And Kiké Hernandez is having the week of his life,” Buck said.

“I don’t know about the week of his life, but he’s had a pretty good first three innings,” Baker said.

Hernandez ended the game going 4-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. In addition to his third-inning homer, Hernandez had a single and double, and also added a solo home run to open the ninth to narrow Houston’s lead to 5-4.

“Yeah, it’s not a good feeling when you know you’re live on air and you see that ball leaving the ballpark,” Baker said later.

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