Narrative Statements:
In a game filled with dramatic swings, the Los Angeles Dodgers staged a miraculous comeback to secure an electrifying 11-9 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. The stunning win was highlighted by Jason Heyward's pinch-hit grand slam and Teoscar Hernandez's three-run homer, both occurring in a remarkable seven-run ninth inning.
The Dodgers' Comeback Narrative
This victory marked the end of a staggering 1,137-game losing streak for the Dodgers when trailing by five or more runs in the ninth inning or later, a streak dating back to 1957. It was the second-longest active losing streak in such scenarios, with only the Mariners having a longer one at 1,234 losses without a win under these conditions.
With this win, the Dodgers improved their 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 that frame since 2004 against the San Francisco Giants.
Heyward's Heroics
Heyward's fourth career grand slam came off Tyler Kinley and was a crucial turning point in the game. The slam was set up by walks to Andy Pages and Miguel Vargas, followed by a single from Miguel Rojas. Heyward then launched his fourth homer of the season, hitting the right-field foul pole to galvanize the Dodgers' comeback.
The Dodgers had initially trailed 7-2 in the fourth inning, with Shohei Ohtani later hitting a colossal 476-foot homer in the fifth. Ohtani also singled off pitcher Victor Vodnik (1-1) before Will Smith struck out looking. Freddie Freeman was intentionally walked—his sixth walk in the last two games—before Hernandez's heroics became the climactic moment of the night.
Hernandez's Game-Changing Swing
Hernandez's dramatic moment came on a 1-2 fastball that he half-swung at, with first base umpire Lance Barksdale ruling that Hernandez did not commit to the swing. This call infuriated Colorado manager Bud Black, who was subsequently ejected from the game. Hernandez then launched his 18th home run, making the score 11-9 and sealing the Dodgers' improbable victory. It was the first time in their 140-year history that the Dodgers had hit both a grand slam and a three-run homer in the ninth inning.
Tensions Escalate
After Hernandez's ball cleared the wall, Colorado right fielder Jake Cave stepped towards Barksdale, visibly upset. Rockies second baseman Alan Trejo had to intervene, stepping between Cave and Barksdale after the inning ended. Relief pitcher Evan Phillips managed to get the only batter he faced, Hunter Goodman, out with a runner on second, recording his 11th save in as many chances. Cave, on deck at the time, had to be restrained by bench coach Mike Redmond as he attempted to reach Barksdale after the game ended.
Rockies' Early Dominance
The Rockies had a strong start to the game, with Elehuris Montero and Brenton Doyle hitting home runs and scoring four runs in the first inning. They held two separate five-run leads during the game. Doyle added three singles for his first career four-hit game, scored twice, and made a diving catch of 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 that time.
Pitching Performances
Dodgers starter Walker Buehler gave up eight hits and seven runs in four innings. This marked the first time the 29-year-old right-hander allowed more than three earned runs since his return to the rotation on May 6 after missing the 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery. Buehler struck out two and walked one. On the other side, reliever Michael Petersen (1-0) worked two innings and struck out two in his major league debut for the Dodgers.
Quotes from the Game
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts praised his team, 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."
Heyward recounted his clutch swing: "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."
Hernandez added, "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 also weighed in on the controversial call: "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."
Petersen described his debut experience: "It was crazy. You can't feel anything. It's like your first date; you are tripping over stuff. But awesome."
With this heart-stopping win, the Dodgers have now won four of their last five games and are 73-32 against Colorado since 2018. The Rockies, conversely, have lost five of their last six games. The game was a testament to the resilience and determination of the Dodgers, as they executed one of the most memorable comebacks in recent history.