Narrative Statements:
In a game filled with dramatic swings, the Los Angeles Dodgers managed an electrifying 11-9 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. The win came courtesy of a pinch-hit grand slam by Jason Heyward and a three-run homer from Teoscar Hernandez, all in a thrilling seven-run ninth inning.
For a staggering duration of 1,137 games, dating back to 1957, the Dodgers had failed to win after trailing by five or more runs in the ninth inning or later. This marked the second-longest active losing streak in such scenarios, only outstripped by the Mariners with 1,234 losses under similar conditions.
However, this victory improved the Dodgers' all-time record to 6-2,619 when facing such daunting deficits. Their seven-run outburst in the ninth inning was their most significant since 2004 against the San Francisco Giants.
The Dramatic Ninth Inning
Heyward's fourth career grand slam was set off by a sequence of walks and a single. Andy Pages and Miguel Vargas walked, followed by a single from Miguel Rojas, setting the stage for Heyward. His fourth homer of the season struck the right-field foul pole, closing the Dodgers' earlier 7-2 deficit from the fourth inning.
Shohei Ohtani added a 476-foot homer in the fifth inning and later singled off pitcher Victor Vodnik (1-1) before Will Smith struck out looking. Freddie Freeman was intentionally walked, marking his sixth walk over the last two games, setting the table for Hernandez’s heroics. On a controversial call, Hernandez's half-swing at a 1-2 fastball was ruled a non-swing by first base umpire Lance Barksdale, leading to Colorado manager Bud Black's ejection after a heated argument.
Hernandez then delivered his 18th home run, making the score 11-9. This moment was historic for the Dodgers, who had never hit both a grand slam and a three-run homer in the ninth inning in their 140-year history. The tension further escalated after Hernandez's homer when Colorado right fielder Jake Cave started yelling at Barksdale and had to be restrained by bench coach Mike Redmond.
Closing the Game
Relief pitcher Evan Phillips sealed the victory, retiring Hunter Goodman with a runner on second for his 11th save in as many chances. Cave, still fuming, tried to confront Barksdale post-game but was again held back by his team's staff.
On the Rockies' side, Elehuris Montero and Brenton Doyle homered, contributing to early leads for Colorado. Doyle shined with three singles for his first career four-hit game, scored twice, and made a crucial diving catch of an Ohtani line drive in the seventh inning, preserving an 8-4 lead at that time.
Dodgers’ Pitching Woes
Dodgers starter Walker Buehler struggled, allowing eight hits and seven runs over four innings. This poor performance marked the first time the right-hander, who returned in May after Tommy John surgery, had allowed more than three earned runs. Buehler's line included two strikeouts and one walk.
Despite these struggles, the Dodgers showcased a dominant stretch, winning four of their last five games and boasting a 73-32 record against Colorado since 2018. Conversely, the Rockies have lost five of their last six games. Notably, reliever Michael Petersen pitched two innings, struck out two, and earned the win in his major league debut.
Manager and Player Reactions
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts praised the team's resilience, 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 showed the fight and compete in our team."
Heyward was elated but uncertain about his grand slam's trajectory. "I wasn't sure if it was going to stay fair or not," he admitted. "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 reflected on the critical moment of his three-run homer, mentioning, "It was close. You could call it either way, and it would 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 other side, Cave was adamant about the controversial call, stating, "When I'm running in before the last of the ninth, [Barksdale] 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."
Petersen likened his debut experience to the excitement of a first date, sharing, "It was crazy. You can't feel anything. It's like your first date; you are tripping over stuff. But awesome."
This win showcased both the Dodgers' offensive prowess and their ability to overcome historical challenges, setting the stage for an intriguing continuation of their season.