In a game that showcased dramatic swings and unexpected triumphs, the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied late to secure an electrifying 11-9 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. This comeback ended a staggering historical streak, as the Dodgers had lost 1,137 consecutive games when trailing by five or more runs in the ninth inning or later, dating back to 1957. Only the Mariners had a longer active losing streak under these conditions, with 1,234 losses.
A Historic Ninth Inning
Jason Heyward ignited the stunning comeback by hitting a pinch-hit grand slam, and Teoscar Hernandez followed up with a three-run homer, all part of a seven-run ninth inning. This incredible sequence led to a memorable win for the Dodgers, who haven't scored seven runs in the ninth inning since 2004 against the San Francisco Giants.
Heyward's fourth career grand slam, which came off Tyler Kinley, was aided by previous walks to Andy Pages and Miguel Vargas, followed by a single from Miguel Rojas. Heyward’s fourth homer of the season sailed into the right-field foul pole, a moment met with thunderous cheers from the crowd. The Dodgers, who trailed 7-2 in the fourth inning, found a way to claw back dramatically.
Shohei Ohtani's Contribution
Shohei Ohtani also made his mark on the game, hitting a 476-foot homer in the fifth inning. Ohtani later singled off pitcher Victor Vodnik before Will Smith struck out looking. Freddie Freeman, who had been intentionally walked six times in the last two games, set the stage for Hernandez’s heroics. Hernandez took a half-swing at a 1-2 fastball, and first base umpire Lance Barksdale ruled that he did not commit to the swing. This decision led to a heated exchange in which Colorado manager Bud Black was ejected from the game.
After Hernandez’s 18th home run made the score 11-9, chaos ensued. When Hernandez’s ball cleared the wall, Colorado right fielder Jake Cave stepped toward Barksdale, yelling in frustration. Rockies second baseman Alan Trejo had to intervene, stepping between Cave and Barksdale after the inning ended.
Sealing the Victory
Dodgers' relief pitcher Evan Phillips faced Hunter Goodman with a runner on second base, managing to get the out and secure his 11th save in as many chances. Meanwhile, Cave, the on-deck hitter, had to be restrained by bench coach Mike Redmond as he continued to argue Barksdale’s call after the game.
Rockies' Highlights
Despite the loss, the Rockies had moments of brilliance. Elehuris Montero and Brenton Doyle both homered, aiding in the four-run first inning that initially gave Colorado the lead. Doyle, who had his first career four-hit game, scored twice and made a spectacular diving catch of Ohtani’s line drive to right-center field in the seventh inning, preserving an 8-4 lead at the time.
Rockies starter Walker Buehler struggled, giving up eight hits and seven runs in four innings. It was 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 managed to strike out two and walked one.
Quotes and Reactions
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts praised his team's resilience, saying, "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."
Jason Heyward was uncertain if his grand slam would stay fair: "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."
Teoscar Hernandez noted, "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."
On the opposite end, Jake Cave expressed his frustration succinctly: "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."
Meanwhile, reliever Michael Petersen, who made his major league debut and struck out two in two innings, compared the sensation to a first date, stating, "It was crazy. You can't feel anything. It's like your first date; you are tripping over stuff. But awesome."
With this remarkable victory, the Dodgers have won four of their last five games and hold a 73-32 record against Colorado since 2018. On the other hand, the Rockies have lost five of their last six games. This game, filled with spectacular plays and intense emotions, will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most thrilling in Dodgers' history.