Was Enrique Hernandez the Dodgers’ missing piece?

They were playing against the team they had to eliminate, against their greatest rival and in front of hostile fans.

All legitimate reasons why the Dodgers were suddenly playing with more intensity and enthusiasm in San Francisco the past two games.

There is, though, another factor that was easy to gloss over after Clayton Kershaw’s brilliant one-hitter in Tuesday night’s division-clinching victory.

The return of Enrique Hernandez.

Hernandez has been a growing presence for the Dodgers as the season developed, going from utility man who played occasionally to someone who had essentially supplanted first-half phenom Joc Pederson as the everyday center fielder.

But he strained a hamstring Aug. 30 and was placed on the disabled list, not returning until Monday’s series opener against the Giants.

And it’s like he was never gone. All he’s done in his first two games since returning is go four for seven with a homer and two runs.

Hernandez, 24, is an excitable boy who plays with great energy, an element often missing from these Dodgers. Sometimes he may appear to get carried away — a rally banana? — and you wonder if he’s not stepping out too far for a young player, but he has been well received by veteran teammates and management.

On the season he has a slash line of .318/.357/.510, but in his last 22 games he’s put up a .384/.416/.589 line that is impossible to ignore. He has played all three outfield spots, shortstop, second base and even a game at third.

He figures to be a semi-regular for the Dodgers in the postseason, mostly starting in center against left-handers. The Mets’ rotation is right-handed dominated, but look for Manager Don Mattingly to get him in the lineup as much as he can.

Hernandez brings spark and vitality the Dodgers need. And now he, and it, are back.

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