In a game filled with dramatic swings, the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off an electrifying comeback to secure an 11-9 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.
A Historic Ninth Inning
The Dodgers, trailing by five runs going into the ninth inning, executed an unbelievable rally. Jason Heyward sparked the comeback with a pinch-hit grand slam, followed by Teoscar Hernandez's three-run homer, culminating in a seven-run ninth inning. This remarkable feat broke a daunting record of 1,137 consecutive losses when trailing by five or more runs in the ninth inning or later, a streak dating back to 1957. This streak was the second-longest active losing streak in such scenarios, only surpassed by the Seattle Mariners with 1,234 losses without a win under these conditions.
The Dodgers improved their all-time record to 6-2,619 when trailing by five or more runs in the ninth inning or later, marking their first instance of scoring seven runs in a ninth inning since a 2004 game against the San Francisco Giants.
Heyward's Heroics
Heyward's fourth career grand slam, which came off pitcher Tyler Kinley, was the pivotal moment of the game. This spectacular hit followed walks by Andy Pages and Miguel Vargas, along with a single by Miguel Rojas. Heyward's fourth homer of the season just nudged the right-field foul pole, sealing its dramatic nature.
"I wasn't sure if it was going to stay fair or not," Heyward said. "It's Colorado, so maybe that helped it straighten out a little bit. I was like, 'Come on, squeak in, squeak in.' I honestly feel like we got rewarded for our process in the ninth."
Hernandez Seals the Deal
Hernandez's heroics set the stage for a historic win. Despite a controversial check-swing call where first base umpire Lance Barksdale ruled that Hernandez did not commit to the swing, Rockies manager Bud Black was ejected after arguing the call. Hernandez then hit his 18th home run, giving the Dodgers an 11-9 lead and marking the first time in their 140-year history that the team hit both a grand slam and a three-run homer in the ninth inning.
"It was close. You can call it either way, and it will be fine," Hernandez commented. "When Jason hit the grand slam, and turning the lineup over to Ohtani, you know something was going to happen. I just wanted to get a good pitch to hit to tie the game. I put a little extra, and it went over the fence. I knew it as soon as I hit it. It felt great, especially because it put the team ahead."
Rockies' Perspective
From the Rockies' side, the disappointment was palpable. Colorado right fielder Jake Cave was visibly upset with the check-swing call. After the game, Cave had to be restrained by bench coach Mike Redmond as he tried to reach Barksdale.
"When I'm running in before the last of the ninth," Cave said, "he looked me right in the face and goes, 'Cave, it's not even close.' Everybody in the world could see it was at least close. And he did swing. It's a big game. It's one of the best teams in baseball, and we're battling with them. That game's won on that swing. That's a swing-and-miss, the game's won, and we beat the Los Angeles Dodgers."
Other Game Highlights
Shohei Ohtani contributed with a formidable 476-foot homer in the fifth inning, and added a single against pitcher Victor Vodnik (1-1) before Will Smith struck out looking. Freddie Freeman, who has been strategically walked numerous times recently, received his sixth intentional walk in the last two games during the same inning.
Dodgers starter Walker Buehler struggled, giving up eight hits and seven runs in four innings. It was the first time the 29-year-old allowed more than three earned runs since his return from Tommy John surgery earlier this season. Despite this, Buehler managed to strike out two and walk one.
Rockies' Elehuris Montero and Brenton Doyle provided formidable resistance, each homering for the team. Doyle added three singles, marking his first career four-hit game, scored twice, and made an impressive diving catch to preserve an 8-4 lead temporarily.
Quotes from the Dugout
Reflecting on the thrilling comeback, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised the quality at-bats: "It was quality at-bats up and down the lineup. Jason was ready when called upon. Teo, he keeps coming up with big hits. That inning, certainly, the results showed the fight, the compete."
Dodgers' reliever Michael Petersen, who worked two innings and struck out two in his major league debut, described the experience: "It was crazy. You can't feel anything. It's like your first date; you are tripping over stuff. But awesome."
Moving Forward
With this win, the Dodgers have taken four of their last five games and continue their dominance over the Rockies with a 73-32 record since 2018. Conversely, the Rockies have lost five of their last six games, searching for answers as their season progresses.