Narrative Statements:
Epic Comeback by Dodgers in Wild Game Against Rockies
In a game filled with dramatic swings, the Los Angeles Dodgers staged a remarkable comeback to secure an electrifying 11-9 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. The game featured a pivotal seven-run ninth inning, punctuated by Jason Heyward's incredible pinch-hit grand slam and Teoscar Hernandez's crucial three-run homer.
Breaking a Historic Streak
This victory marked the end of a long-standing drought for the Dodgers. They had 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 situations, trailing only the Mariners' 1,234 losses under similar conditions. With this triumph, the Dodgers improved their all-time record to 6-2,619 when facing a five-run or greater deficit in the ninth inning or later.
Heyward's Heroics
Heyward's fourth career grand slam came off Tyler Kinley, following walks by Andy Pages and Miguel Vargas, and a single by Miguel Rojas. The grand slam hit the right-field foul pole, marking Heyward's fourth homer of the season. The Dodgers had been trailing 7-2 in the fourth inning, making the rally all the more improbable.
Ohtani's Contributions
Shohei Ohtani added another memorable moment to the game with a monstrous 476-foot homer in the fifth inning. He later singled off pitcher Victor Vodnik (1-1) 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 game-changing swing.
Controversial Call
Hernandez's heroics were not without controversy. He 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 Colorado manager Bud Black arguing the call and subsequently being ejected from the game. Hernandez then hit his 18th home run, giving the Dodgers an 11-9 lead. This marked 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.
Tensions Flare
After Hernandez's ball cleared the wall, Colorado right fielder Jake Cave stepped toward Barksdale, yelling in frustration. Rockies second baseman Alan Trejo intervened, stepping between Cave and Barksdale after the inning ended. Relief pitcher Evan Phillips secured the win by retiring the only batter he faced, Hunter Goodman, with a runner on second, recording his 11th save in as many chances. The on-deck hitter, Cave, had to be restrained by bench coach Mike Redmond as he attempted to reach Barksdale after the game ended.
Rockies' Strong Start
Elehuris Montero and Brenton Doyle homered for the Rockies, who scored four runs in the first inning and twice held five-run leads. Doyle, in particular, had a standout performance with three singles for his first career four-hit game. He also made a diving catch off Ohtani's line drive to right-center field with runners on first and second and two outs in the seventh inning, preserving an 8-4 lead at the time.
Buehler's Tough Outing
Dodgers starter Walker Buehler gave up eight hits and seven runs in four innings. This 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 struck out two and walked one during his outing.
Team Effort
Andy Pages also homered for the Dodgers, who have now won four of their last five games. The team has an impressive record of 73-32 against the Rockies since 2018. On the other hand, the Rockies have lost five of their last six games. Reliever Michael Petersen, making his major league debut, worked two innings and struck out two batters to earn his first career win.
Quotes from the Game
"It was quality at-bats up and down the lineup," said Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts. "Jason was ready when called upon. Teo keeps coming up with big hits. That inning certainly showed the fight and the competition."
"I wasn't sure if it was going to stay fair or not," Heyward remarked about his grand slam. "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 reflected on his crucial homer: "It was close. You can 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. It felt great, especially because it put the team ahead."
Cave expressed his frustration over the controversial call: "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 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 major league debut to a first date: "It was crazy. You can't feel anything. It's like your first date; you are tripping over stuff. But awesome."