Remarkable Ninth Inning Sparks Dodgers' Comeback Victory
In a game filled with dramatic swings, the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off an electrifying 11-9 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night, thanks to a historic nine-run rally in the ninth inning. Jason Heyward delivered a pinch-hit grand slam and Teoscar Hernandez added a three-run homer, shattering long-standing records and stunning the Rockies.
Historic Comeback
The Dodgers had a daunting task in front of them, having lost 1,137 consecutive games when trailing by five or more runs in the ninth inning or later, a streak dating back to 1957. Only the Seattle Mariners had a longer active losing streak in similar scenarios, with 1,234 losses. However, the Dodgers defied the odds, improving their all-time record to 6-2,619 when trailing by five or more runs in the ninth inning or later. Their seven-run rally also marked the most they had scored in a ninth inning since 2004 against the San Francisco Giants.
Heyward's fourth career grand slam came off Tyler Kinley, following walks by Andy Pages and Miguel Vargas and a single by Miguel Rojas. His fourth homer of the season ricocheted off the right-field foul pole, injecting new life into the Dodgers' offense.
Hernandez's Heroics
Teoscar Hernandez further fueled the comeback with a pivotal three-run homer that made it 11-9, setting the stage for the Dodgers' win. Hernandez almost missed the opportunity when first base umpire Lance Barksdale ruled that he did not commit to a swing on a 1-2 fastball, a call that led to Rockies manager Bud Black’s ejection after an argument. Hernandez's 18th home run was a no-doubter, triggering a chaotic reaction from the Rockies' dugout as they watched the lead slip away.
This was 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. Colorado right fielder Jake Cave was visibly upset, arguing with Barksdale and having to be restrained by bench coach Mike Redmond after the game ended.
Resilient Efforts by the Rockies
Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Rockies put up a valiant effort. Elehuris Montero and Brenton Doyle homered, with Doyle also adding three singles for his first career four-hit game. He scored twice and made a crucial diving catch in the seventh inning to preserve an 8-4 lead at the time. Rockies starter Walker Buehler gave up eight hits and seven runs in four innings, marking the first time the 29-year-old right-hander allowed more than three earned runs since his return from Tommy John surgery in May.
Quotes from the Game
"It was quality at-bats up and down the lineup," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "Jason was ready when called upon. Teo keeps coming up with big hits. That inning, certainly, the results showed the fight and the compete."
Heyward added, "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 reflected on his decisive homer, "It was close. You can call it either way, and it will be fine. When Jason hit the grand slam and turned the lineup over to Ohtani, you knew 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."
Rockies' Jake Cave expressed his frustration, "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, 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."
Reliever Michael Petersen also shared his thoughts on his major league debut, "It was crazy. You can't feel anything. It's like your first date; you are tripping over stuff. But awesome."
With this victory, the Dodgers have now won four of their last five games and boast a 73-32 record against Colorado since 2018. Meanwhile, the Rockies have lost five of their last six games, reflecting the contrasting fortunes of the two teams. This match will be remembered as a testament to the Dodgers' resilience and ability to deliver in clutch moments.