Narrative Statements:
In a game filled with dramatic swings, the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off a historic comeback that showcased their resilience and depth. Their electrifying 11-9 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night featured a seven-run ninth inning, punctuated by a pinch-hit grand slam from Jason Heyward and a three-run homer from Teoscar Hernandez. The Dodgers proved that they could never be counted out, no matter the deficit.
Heading into the ninth inning, the Dodgers had lost 1,137 consecutive games when trailing by five or more runs in the ninth inning or later, a streak dating back to 1957. Only the Seattle Mariners held a longer active losing streak in such scenarios, with 1,234 consecutive losses. This victory improved the Dodgers' all-time record in these situations to 6-2,619.
Historic Night for the Dodgers
The seven runs scored in the ninth inning were the most for the Dodgers since 2004, when they accomplished the feat against the San Francisco Giants. Heyward's grand slam off Tyler Kinley was the catalyst, following walks to Andy Pages and Miguel Vargas and a single by Miguel Rojas. Heyward's fourth homer of the season clipped the right-field foul pole, breathing new life into a team that trailed 7-2 in the fourth inning.
Shohei Ohtani added to the drama with a towering 476-foot homer in the fifth inning. His subsequent single off pitcher Victor Vodnik set the stage for Will Smith, who struck out looking. Freeman's intentional walk, his sixth in the last two games, brought Hernandez to the plate, ready for his heroics.
The Turning Point
Hernandez, with a half-swing on a 1-2 fastball, was ruled by first base umpire Lance Barksdale to have held back his swing. This controversial call led to an ejection for Colorado manager Bud Black, who vehemently argued the decision. Hernandez took advantage, blasting his 18th home run to make it 11-9. This marked the first time in the Dodgers' 140-year history that they hit both a grand slam and a three-run homer in the ninth inning.
As Hernandez's ball sailed over the fence, Colorado right fielder Jake Cave expressed his frustration with Barksdale, only to be restrained by teammates and coaching staff. The tension underscored the high stakes of the game and the impact of umpiring decisions.
Dodgers relief pitcher Evan Phillips sealed the win by retiring Hunter Goodman with a runner on second, securing his 11th save in as many chances. The Rockies, who had explosive moments with home runs from Elehuris Montero and Brenton Doyle, ultimately fell short. Doyle's first career four-hit game and his diving catch of Ohtani's line drive in the seventh inning were not enough to stave off the Dodgers' comeback.
Pitching Performances
Dodgers starter Walker Buehler struggled, giving up eight hits and seven runs in four innings. It was his first time allowing more than three earned runs since returning from Tommy John surgery in May 2023. Buehler struck out two and walked one, reflecting the challenges he faced against a determined Rockies lineup.
Reliever Michael Petersen, making his major league debut, provided a bright spot for the Dodgers with two innings of work and two strikeouts. Despite the nerves, Petersen described the experience as "crazy" and likened it to "tripping over stuff" on a first date.
Managing the Game
"It was quality at-bats up and down the lineup," praised Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts. "Jason was ready when called upon. Teo, he keeps coming up with big hits. That inning, certainly, the results showed the fight, the compete."
Heyward reflected on his pivotal grand slam: "I wasn't sure if it was going to stay fair or not. 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 acknowledged the close call: "It was close. You can call it either way, and it will be fine. 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."
Cave, still upset after the game, insisted: "When I'm running in before the last of the ninth, 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."
The victory, marked by dramatic swings and historical feats, kept the Dodgers on a high note, continuing their dominance over the Rockies with a 73-32 record since 2018. Meanwhile, the Rockies, plagued by close losses, extended their struggles, having lost five of their last six games.