Narrative Statements:
In a game filled with dramatic swings, the Los Angeles Dodgers showcased a breathtaking comeback to secure an electrifying 11-9 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. This historic win broke a 1,137-game losing streak dating back to 1957, where the Dodgers had never won a game when trailing by five or more runs in the ninth inning or later. Only the Seattle Mariners have a longer consecutive losing streak in such scenarios, with 1,234 losses.
A Comeback for the Ages
Jason Heyward ignited the pivotal turnaround with a pinch-hit grand slam, his fourth career grand slam, off Tyler Kinley. This remarkable moment came after walks by Andy Pages and Miguel Vargas, and a single by Miguel Rojas. Heyward's blast hit the right-field foul pole, marking his fourth homer of the season. Following this, Teoscar Hernandez added a three-run homer to cap off a stunning seven-run ninth inning, sealing the victory for the Dodgers.
Heyward’s critical home run not only narrowed the scoreline but also shifted the momentum dramatically in favor of the Dodgers. Before this inning, Los Angeles trailed 7-2 by the fourth inning but refused to surrender, even as the Rockies built two five-run leads during the game.
Record-Breaking Moments
This victory improved the Dodgers' all-time record to 6-2,619 when trailing by five or more runs in the ninth inning or later. Remarkably, their seven runs in this inning were the most they scored in the ninth since 2004 against the San Francisco Giants. Furthermore, it 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.
Shohei Ohtani contributed to the Dodgers’ offense with a massive 476-foot homer in the fifth inning, followed by a single off pitcher Victor Vodnik (1-1) before Will Smith struck out looking. Freddie Freeman received an intentional walk, his sixth in the last two games, setting the stage for Hernandez’s ninth-inning heroics.
Drama on the Field
The intense ninth inning also saw moments of controversy. Hernandez initially took a half-swing at a 1-2 fastball, and first base umpire Lance Barksdale ruled that Hernandez did not commit to the swing. This decision led to a heated argument from Colorado manager Bud Black, who was subsequently ejected from the game. Hernandez capitalized on the opportunity, hitting his 18th home run, which gave the Dodgers an 11-9 lead.
After the game-winning hit by Hernandez, more drama ensued as Colorado right fielder Jake Cave vocally protested the call to Barksdale. Rockies second baseman Alan Trejo intervened to prevent the altercation from escalating further on the field. Relief pitcher Evan Phillips then secured the win by retiring Hunter Goodman with a runner on second, recording his 11th save in as many opportunities.
Rockies' Early Lead
Despite the Dodgers' late-game heroics, the Rockies had their moments, especially early in the game. Elehuris Montero and Brenton Doyle both homered for the Rockies, who jumped out to an early lead by scoring four runs in the first inning. Doyle added three singles, marking his first career four-hit game, and made a crucial diving catch to preserve their lead in the seventh inning.
Dodgers' starter Walker Buehler faced challenges on the mound, giving up eight hits and seven runs in four innings. This was the first time Buehler allowed more than three earned runs since his return to the rotation on May 6 after missing the 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery. Buehler struck out two and issued one walk during his outing.
Andy Pages also homered for the Dodgers, who have now won four of their last five games and boast a 73-32 record against Colorado since 2018. The Rockies have struggled recently, losing five of their last six games.
Quotes from the Dugout
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts praised his team’s determination, stating, “It was quality at-bats up and down the lineup. Jason was ready when called upon. Teo keeps coming up with big hits. That inning certainly showed the fight and competitiveness of our team.”
Jason Heyward reflected on his grand slam, saying, “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 honestly feel like we got rewarded for our process in the ninth.”
Hernandez acknowledged the pressure, adding, “It was close. You can call it either way. 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 and tie the game. It felt great, especially because it put the team ahead.”
Rockies’ Jake Cave expressed his frustration over the controversial call, stating, “When I’m running in (before the bottom of the ninth), he looked me right in the face and goes, ‘Cave, it’s not even close.’ Everybody could see it was at least close. That game is won on that swing.”
In his major league debut, Michael Petersen, who worked two innings and struck out two, shared his excitement, “It was crazy. You can’t feel anything. It’s like your first date; you are tripping over stuff. But awesome.”