Narrative Statements:
In a game filled with dramatic swings, the Los Angeles Dodgers staged an extraordinary comeback to triumph over the Colorado Rockies with an electrifying 11-9 victory on Tuesday night. This win ended a staggering streak of 1,137 consecutive losses when trailing by five or more runs in the ninth inning or later, a streak that dated back to 1957.
### Remarkable Turnaround
The Dodgers had the second-longest losing streak in such scenarios, with only the Seattle Mariners suffering a longer streak at 1,234 losses. The Dodgers now boast a 6-2,619 record when trailing by five or more runs in the ninth inning or later. Their seven-run explosion marked the most they had scored in the ninth inning since 2004 against the San Francisco Giants.
Jason Heyward's pinch-hit grand slam off Tyler Kinley was the driving force behind this stunning victory. Heyward's fourth career grand slam followed walks by Andy Pages and Miguel Vargas, and a single by Miguel Rojas. His fourth homer of the season, which hit the right-field foul pole, was a pivotal moment for the Dodgers, who trailed 7-2 in the fourth inning.
### Hernandez's Heroics
Adding to the excitement, Teoscar Hernandez blasted a three-run homer in the same inning, propelling the Dodgers to clinch the game. Hernandez's 18th home run came under tense circumstances. On a 1-2 fastball, first base umpire Lance Barksdale ruled that Hernandez did not commit to a swing, a call that infuriated Colorado manager Bud Black, leading to his ejection. The home run raised the score to 11-9, marking 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.
The game ended on another dramatic note when Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips, facing Hunter Goodman with a runner on second, retired Goodman to record his 11th save in as many chances. Rockies' right fielder Jake Cave, the on-deck hitter, expressed his frustration with Barksdale's call, and had to be restrained by bench coach Mike Redmond after the game ended.
### Rockies' Early Dominance
Despite the Rockies' aggressive start, with Elehuris Montero and Brenton Doyle each homering and contributing to a four-run first inning, they were unable to maintain their lead. Doyle also added three singles for his first career four-hit game, scored twice, and made a remarkable diving catch off Shohei Ohtani's line drive in the seventh inning when the Rockies were up 8-4.
Dodgers' starting pitcher Walker Buehler struggled, giving up eight hits and seven runs within four innings. This was the first time since his return to the rotation on May 6 — after missing the 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery — that Buehler allowed more than three earned runs. Buehler managed to strike out two and walked one.
### Building Momentum
Andy Pages also homered for the Dodgers, who have now won four of their last five games and hold a commanding 73-32 record against Colorado since 2018. Their recent form has seen the Rockies suffer, losing five of their last six games. Notably, reliever Michael Petersen, in his major league debut, worked through two innings and struck out two batters, earning his first win.
### Managerial Insights
"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."
Heyward shared his thoughts on his clutch grand slam: "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 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 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."
In contrast, Cave reflected on the crucial umpiring decision: "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, still buoyed by the drama of his debut, remarked, "It was crazy. You can't feel anything. It's like your first date; you are tripping over stuff. But awesome."
This electrifying victory by the Dodgers not only made history but also showcased the relentless spirit and perseverance that defines their team.