Narrative Statements:
In a game filled with dramatic swings, the Los Angeles Dodgers orchestrated a remarkable comeback to secure an electrifying 11-9 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. The Dodgers, who had lost 1,137 consecutive games when trailing by five or more runs in the ninth inning or later, dating back to 1957, staged an unprecedented rally. This streak was the second-longest active losing streak in such scenarios, only surpassed by the Mariners, who had 1,234 losses without a win under these conditions. The Dodgers' triumph improved their all-time record to 6-2,619 when trailing by five or more runs in the ninth inning or later.
Heyward's Grand Slam Steals the Show
Jason Heyward ignited the rally with a pinch-hit grand slam off Tyler Kinley. This was Heyward's fourth career grand slam and it came after walks by Andy Pages and Miguel Vargas, followed by a single from Miguel Rojas. Heyward's slam clanged off the right-field foul pole, marking his fourth homer of the season.
The Dodgers, who trailed 7-2 in the fourth inning, clawed their way back and added seven runs in the ninth inning. This marked the most runs they had scored in the ninth inning since a game against the San Francisco Giants in 2004. Following Heyward's grand slam, Teoscar Hernandez added a three-run homer, bringing the tally to seven runs in the thrilling ninth inning sequence.
Shohei Ohtani's Performance
The game also saw Shohei Ohtani hitting a towering 476-foot homer in the fifth inning. Later in the game, Ohtani singled off pitcher Victor Vodnik (1-1) before Will Smith struck out looking. Freddie Freeman then received an intentional walk, his sixth walk in the last two games. Hernandez's heroics set the stage for the win with his three-run homer, making it 11-9.
Hernandez initially took a half-swing at a 1-2 fastball which was ruled not a committed swing by first base umpire Lance Barksdale. Colorado manager Bud Black, disagreeing with the call, was ejected after arguing with Barksdale. Hernandez's subsequent home run, his 18th of the season, marked a historical moment for the Dodgers.
Historic Moment for the Dodgers
This game was the first time in their 140-year history that the Dodgers hit both a grand slam and a three-run homer in the ninth inning. After Hernandez's homer cleared the wall, Colorado right fielder Jake Cave expressed his frustration to Barksdale, leading to intervention from Rockies second baseman Alan Trejo.
Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips sealed the game by getting the only batter he faced, Hunter Goodman, out with a runner on second, thus recording his 11th save in as many chances. Cave, the on-deck hitter, had to be restrained by bench coach Mike Redmond in his attempts to reach Barksdale after the game ended.
Rockies' Offensive Efforts
Despite the loss, the Rockies showcased a solid offensive performance. Elehuris Montero and Brenton Doyle homered, contributing to their four-run first inning and allowing the Rockies to twice hold five-run leads. Doyle, who added three singles to his homer, had his first career four-hit game. He also made a significant defensive play, making a diving catch of Ohtani's line drive with runners on first and second and two outs in the seventh inning, preserving an 8-4 lead at the time.
Dodgers' Pitching Challenges
Dodgers starter Walker Buehler struggled, giving up eight hits and seven runs across four innings. This marked the first time the 29-year-old right-hander allowed more than three earned runs since returning to the rotation on May 6 after missing the 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery. Buehler struck out two and walked one during his outing.
Andy Pages also contributed offensively for the Dodgers with a homer. The Dodgers, who have won four of their last five games and hold a 73-32 record against Colorado since 2018, saw reliever Michael Petersen (1-0) work two innings and strike out two in his major league debut.
Post-Game Quotes
"It was quality at-bats up and down the lineup," Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. "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 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 added, "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 felt great, especially because it put the team ahead."
Cave expressed his frustration with the umpiring, "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."
Lastly, Petersen reflected on his debut, "It was crazy. You can't feel anything. It's like your first date; you are tripping over stuff. But awesome."
In sum, the Dodgers' comeback showcased their resilience and highlighted the dramatic nature of baseball, a sport where historic moments can unfold at any time.