The Los Angeles Dodgers Stun Colorado Rockies with Dramatic Ninth-Inning Rally

The Los Angeles Dodgers Stun Colorado Rockies with Dramatic Ninth-Inning Rally

In a game filled with dramatic swings, the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off an electrifying 11-9 victory over the Colorado Rockies, rallying from a five-run deficit in the ninth inning on Tuesday night. The Dodgers had previously lost 1,137 consecutive games when trailing by five or more runs in the ninth inning or later, a streak dating back to 1957.

Historic Comeback

This remarkable comeback was only trumped by the Seattle Mariners, who hold the longest active losing streak with 1,234 losses under similar circumstances. The Dodgers' victory 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 were also the most they had scored in a single inning since 2004 against the San Francisco Giants.

Key Performances

Jason Heyward played a pivotal role, hitting a pinch-hit grand slam off Tyler Kinley. The grand slam, Heyward's fourth of his career and the season, followed walks by Andy Pages and Miguel Vargas, and a single by Miguel Rojas. The ball hit the right-field foul pole, sealing Heyward's place in the night’s heroics.

"I wasn't sure if it was going to stay fair or not," Heyward said. "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's Heroics

Teoscar Hernandez added a three-run homer, his 18th of the season, that proved crucial in the rally. This was the first time in the Dodgers' 140-year history that they hit both a grand slam and a three-run homer in the ninth inning.

Hernandez's defining moment came after a controversial call. 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 call led to the ejection of Colorado manager Bud Black, who vehemently argued the decision. Hernandez then sent a three-run homer over the wall, making the score 11-9.

"It was close. You can call it either way, and it will be fine," Hernandez commented postgame. "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."

Colorado's Efforts Unraveled

For the Rockies, Elehuris Montero and Brenton Doyle both homered, and Doyle added three singles for his first career four-hit game. Despite scoring four runs in the first inning and twice holding five-run leads, the Rockies couldn't stave off the Dodgers’ rally. Doyle also made a crucial defensive play, a diving catch off a Shohei Ohtani line drive with runners on first and second in the seventh inning, preserving an 8-4 lead at that moment.

Pitching Summary

Dodgers starter Walker Buehler struggled, giving 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.

Reliever Michael Petersen made an impressive major league debut, working two innings and striking out two batters.

For Colorado, relief pitcher Evan Phillips got the only batter he faced, Hunter Goodman, out with a runner on second, recording his 11th save in as many chances. Cave, the on-deck hitter, had to be restrained by bench coach Mike Redmond as he attempted to reach Barksdale after the game ended.

Manager and Player Reactions

"It was quality at-bats up and down the lineup," Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. "Jason was ready when called upon. Teo, he keeps coming up with big hits. That inning, certainly, the results showed the fight, the compete."

Rockies player Jake Cave expressed his frustration over 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," Cave lamented.

Petersen, reflecting on his debut, said, "It was crazy. You can't feel anything. It's like your first date; you are tripping over stuff. But awesome."

The Dodgers have now won four of their last five games and hold a dominating 73-32 record against Colorado since 2018. Meanwhile, the Rockies have lost five of their last six games, continuing their struggles this season.