Another perfect day for L.A., 29 yrs. later

CHICAGO — The World Series finally loves L.A. again.

If the Yankees are able to finish off the Astros, they will be facing another monster challenge in a coast-tocoast battle that would be a dream matchup like back in the days of Reggie Jackson.

Kiké Hernandez made like Reggie, bashing three home runs as the Dodgers pulverized the defending world champion Cubs, 11-1 Thursday night at Wrigley Field, winning the NLCS in five games and earning their first World Series visit since 1988 when they beat the Athletics in five games.

The Dodgers, a team with depth galore, used it all this series and got two home runs from Hernandez before the game was three innings complete. The second blast, to right field, was a grand slam. He had seven RBIs setting a single-game record for the LCS.

The Dodgers have created their own star-studded Hollywood walk of fame.

In the middle of a wild celebration, Hernandez tried to put the night and this amazing Dodgers team in perspective. Those were the first postseason home runs of his life.

“Not only did we beat the world champs, we did it with an empty stadium,’’ Hernandez said. “We crushed the fans’ hearts and they left early and by the 27th out, there were all Dodger [fans] in the stadium. To do what we did the last two series just tells you what kind of team we have.

“Yes, we got to the World Series, but that’s not the goal, the goal is to win the World Series, and we don’t accomplish anything if we don’t win it.’’

This was about family, the Dodgers’ family.

“I was just wanting this game to be over so I could just give my dad a big hug,’’ Hernandez said. “If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here. He sacrificed a lot for me to be here. Last year he had to battle cancer and he kicked cancer’s ass. It was only a month ago I was in Puerto Rico, my dad’s dad passed and I left Puerto Rico a day be- fore the hurricane hit. People back home are going through horrible times, so for me to be able to do this on a stage like this and give the people back home something to smile about for at least a little bit is special.’’

Clayton Kershaw was not going to let any lead slip away. He went six innings and will start the World Series opener Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.

“All the individual stuff is great, but at the end of the day I just want to win a World Series,’’ Kershaw said. “If we win, I might retire, so I might just call it a career. It’s a special thing, and I know that I’m not taking that for granted.’’

The win means the Dodgers could fly back home to Los Angeles after the wild postgame Wrigley party Thursday night, relax a bit and watch the Yankees and Astros battle it out Friday night.

“Hopefully they go seven games and play 37 innings on the seventh game,’’ Kershaw said.

Former Met Justin Turner is the glue that keeps this lineup going. He delivered an RBI single in the third followed by singles from Cody Bellinger, the Dodgers rookie answer to Aaron Judge, and Yasiel Puig, setting the table for Hernandez’s grand slam.

Hernandez celebrated as he crossed home plate while the crowd of 42,735 watched in stunned silence. The Dodgers were on their way to the World Series for the first time in 29 years. For 90-year-old Tommy Lasorda, Kirk Gibson and the rest of the Dodgers’ crew, this is a dream come true.

“I’ve waited so long, I waited and waited and waited,’’ Lasorda said. “It didn’t seem right the Dodgers waited so long without being in the World Series and finally we did it, and now we don’t have to worry about that anymore.’’

No they don’t. Like Randy Newman sang: “We’re gonna ride it till we just can’t ride it no more”

Yes, Tuesday looks like another perfect day in L.A.