Dramatic Comeback Leads Dodgers to Victory
In a game characterized by dramatic momentum shifts, the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off a stunning comeback to secure an electrifying 11-9 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. The Dodgers have a notorious history when trailing by five or more runs in the ninth inning or later, having lost 1,137 consecutive games in such situations dating back to 1957. This remarkable victory broke the second-longest active losing streak in these conditions.
The Dodgers' rally in the ninth inning was their most productive since 2004, featuring standout performances from Jason Heyward and Teoscar Hernandez. Heyward hit a pinch-hit grand slam, his fourth career grand slam, off Tyler Kinley. This followed walks by Andy Pages and Miguel Vargas and a single by Miguel Rojas. Heyward’s fourth homer of the season struck the right-field foul pole, erasing the Dodgers' deficit.
Hernandez contributed to the dramatic finish by adding a three-run homer, his 18th of the season, sealing the Dodgers’ victory. This marked the first occasion in the Dodgers' 140-year history that the team hit both a grand slam and a three-run homer in the ninth inning.
Memorable Performances
The Dodgers trailed 7-2 by the fourth inning when Shohei Ohtani hit a remarkable 476-foot homer in the fifth. Ohtani later singled off pitcher Victor Vodnik before Will Smith struck out looking. Freddie Freeman received an intentional walk, his sixth walk in the last two games, setting the stage for Hernandez’s heroics.
Hernandez’s half-swing at a 1-2 fastball led first base umpire Lance Barksdale to rule that Hernandez had not committed to the swing, a decision that sparked controversy and led to Colorado manager Bud Black's ejection. Following this incident, Hernandez launched his game-changing homer, making the score 11-9.
After the game, Colorado right fielder Jake Cave confronted Barksdale, and tension rose as Rockies second baseman Alan Trejo had to step in to diffuse the situation. Relief pitcher Evan Phillips closed the game by retiring Hunter Goodman with a runner on second base, recording his 11th save in as many opportunities.
For the Rockies, Elehuris Montero and Brenton Doyle both homered. Doyle added three singles for his first career four-hit game and made a significant defensive play in the seventh inning, preserving an 8-4 lead at the time. Despite their efforts, the Rockies couldn’t hold onto the win, placing the blame on missed opportunities and questionable calls.
Pitching Struggles
Walker Buehler, starting for the Dodgers, had a tough outing, giving up eight hits and seven runs in four innings. This was the first time the 29-year-old right-hander had allowed more than three earned runs since returning from Tommy John surgery earlier in the season. Buehler managed to strike out two batters and issued one walk during his time on the mound.
Reliever Michael Petersen (1-0) stood out in his major league debut, working two innings and striking out two. Petersen’s performance under pressure was a promising sign for the Dodgers’ bullpen and garnered praise from teammates and coaches alike.
Statements from the Field
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts lauded the team's determination and called out the quality of at-bats throughout the lineup. "Jason was ready when called upon. Teo keeps coming up with big hits. That inning, certainly, the results showed the fight, the compete," Roberts said.
Heyward, reflecting on his grand slam, commented, "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 shared his thoughts on the heart-stopping finish: "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, visibly frustrated after the game, noted, "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. That game’s won on that swing. That's a swing-and-miss; the game's won, and we beat the Los Angeles Dodgers."
Petersen likened his major league debut to an adrenaline rush: "It was crazy. You can't feel anything. It's like your first date; you are tripping over stuff. But awesome."
The Dodgers' victory adds another chapter to their storied franchise, as they continue to demonstrate resilience and clutch performance in crucial moments. The Rockies, despite showcasing potential and talent, were left to regroup and reassess after losing five of their last six games. As the season progresses, both teams will aim to build on their experiences from this memorable clash.