In a stunning baseball game filled with dramatic swings and intense moments, the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off an electrifying 11-9 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. In what will be remembered as one of the most significant comebacks in team history, the Dodgers showcased their resilience and determination, coming from behind in a game which saw them trailing by five or more runs in the ninth inning—a feat they had not accomplished in 1,137 consecutive games dating back to 1957. This was the second-longest active losing streak in such scenarios, with only the Mariners having a longer streak at 1,234 losses without a win under these conditions.
The Ninth Inning Rally
The Dodgers' rally started in the most unexpected manner, with Jason Heyward hitting a pinch-hit grand slam off Tyler Kinley. Andy Pages and Miguel Vargas had walked, and Miguel Rojas singled to load the bases, setting the stage for Heyward. His fourth homer of the season struck the right-field foul pole, bringing the Dodgers within striking distance. This was Heyward's fourth career grand slam, and the Dodgers' seven-run ninth inning was their highest-scoring ninth inning since 2004 against the San Francisco Giants.
Heyward was not the only hero of the inning. Teoscar Hernandez added to the drama with a three-run homer, making it 11-9 and sealing the victory for Los Angeles. Hernandez's half-swing at a 1-2 fastball was initially ruled a non-swing by first base umpire Lance Barksdale, a call that infuriated Colorado manager Bud Black, who was subsequently ejected. Hernandez did not waste the opportunity, hitting his 18th home run and putting the Dodgers in the lead for good. This marked 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.
Rockies' Efforts
The Rockies started strong, with Elehuris Montero and Brenton Doyle each homering. The team scored four runs in the first inning and twice held five-run leads, looking poised to secure the victory. Doyle, in particular, shone brightly, adding three singles for his first career four-hit game, scoring twice, and making a diving catch to rob Shohei Ohtani of a hit in the seventh inning.
However, the Rockies struggled to hold onto their lead in the face of the Dodgers' relentless offense. Walker Buehler, the Dodgers' starter, allowed eight hits and seven runs in four innings, his first time giving up more than three earned runs since returning from Tommy John surgery. Despite these setbacks, the Dodgers' bullpen stepped up, with reliever Michael Petersen striking out two in his major league debut, and Evan Phillips recording his 11th save in as many chances by getting the last batter, Hunter Goodman, out with a runner on second.
Manager and Player Reactions
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts praised his team's collective effort, stating, "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."
Heyward, reflecting on his game-changing grand slam, said, "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 tension of his critical at-bat. "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."
On the other side, Rockies right fielder Jake Cave was vocal about his frustrations with the umpire's call. "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."
Despite the Rockies' valiant efforts, the night's spotlight was firmly on the Dodgers' unforgettable comeback and the remarkable contributions from Heyward and Hernandez. This game will undoubtedly be remembered as a testament to the unpredictable and exhilarating nature of baseball.