Electrifying Ninth Inning Propels Dodgers to Historic Comeback Over Rockies
In a game marked by dramatic swings on Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off an incredible 11-9 victory over the Colorado Rockies, showcasing a never-say-die attitude that electrified the fans at Coors Field. This win was nothing short of historic as the Dodgers had previously lost 1,137 consecutive games when trailing by five or more runs in the ninth inning or later, a streak dating back to 1957. This was the second-longest active losing streak in such scenarios, with only the Seattle Mariners holding a longer one at 1,234 games.
Ninth Inning Miracle
In an unforgettable ninth inning, pinch-hitter Jason Heyward sparked the comeback with a grand slam off Tyler Kinley, igniting a surge of energy in the Dodgers' dugout. The slam followed walks by Andy Pages and Miguel Vargas and a single by Miguel Rojas. Heyward's fourth homer of the season, a towering shot that hit the right-field foul pole, cut into the Rockies' lead, setting the stage for the dramatic conclusion.
Teoscar Hernandez then added a three-run homer, capping off a seven-run ninth inning for the Dodgers. Hernandez's half-swing at a 1-2 fastball was ruled a no-swing by first base umpire Lance Barksdale, leading to an ejection for Colorado manager Bud Black, who vehemently argued the call. Moments later, Hernandez launched his 18th home run of the season, giving the Dodgers an 11-9 lead and sealing the historic comeback.
Dodgers Snap Streak
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. Their seven runs in the ninth inning were the most they had scored in such a frame since 2004 against the San Francisco Giants. It also marked the first time in the franchise's 140-year history that the Dodgers hit both a grand slam and a three-run homer in the ninth inning of the same game.
After Hernandez's homer cleared the wall, Colorado right fielder Jake Cave confronted Barksdale and had to be restrained by bench coach Mike Redmond. Meanwhile, relief pitcher Evan Phillips secured the win by retiring the only batter he faced, Hunter Goodman, to record his 11th save in as many chances.
Wild Opening
The Rockies started the game strong with a four-run first inning, and twice held five-run leads. Elehuris Montero and Brenton Doyle homered for the Rockies, with Doyle adding three singles for his first career four-hit game. Doyle also made a diving catch of a line drive by Shohei Ohtani in the seventh inning, helping preserve an 8-4 lead at the time.
Dodgers' starter Walker Buehler struggled, giving up eight hits and seven runs in four innings. This was the first time Buehler allowed more than three earned runs since returning from Tommy John surgery. He struck out two and walked one in an uncharacteristically poor performance.
Andy Pages also homered for the Dodgers, who have been dominant against the Rockies, winning 73 of their 105 matchups since 2018. The victory was also part of a recent hot streak for the Dodgers, who have now won four of their last five games. In contrast, the Rockies have struggled, losing five of their last six games.
Quotes from the Players and Managers
"It was quality at-bats up and down the lineup," Dodgers 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 described the tension of 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 was like, 'Come on, squeak in, squeak in.' I honestly feel like we got rewarded for our process in the ninth."
"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 knew something was going to happen," Hernandez added. "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."
However, Cave remained upset about the controversial call that led to Hernandez's homer. "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,'" Cave recounted. "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."
Reflecting on his debut, Dodgers reliever Michael Petersen said, "It was crazy. You can't feel anything. It's like your first date; you are tripping over stuff. But awesome."
This unforgettable game will undoubtedly be remembered for its dramatic twists and turns, and for the Dodgers, it was a testament to their resilience and fighting spirit.