The Dodgers' Historic Comeback
In a game filled with dramatic swings, the Los Angeles Dodgers staged an electrifying comeback, defeating the Colorado Rockies 11-9 on Tuesday night. This victory marked a historic moment for the Dodgers, who 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. This was the second-longest active losing streak in such scenarios; only the Seattle Mariners had a longer streak with 1,234 losses without a win under similar conditions.
Pinch-hitter Jason Heyward led the charge with a grand slam, followed by a three-run homer from Teoscar Hernandez, both part of a seven-run rally in the ninth inning, making history for their team. The Dodgers improved their all-time record in these situations to 6 wins and 2,619 losses.
The Early Deficit
The Dodgers trailed 7-2 in the fourth inning after the Rockies jumped to an early lead. Elehuris Montero and Brenton Doyle both homered for the Rockies, who scored four runs in the first inning and twice held five-run leads. Doyle added three singles, his first career four-hit game, scored twice, and made a diving catch of Shohei Ohtani's line drive to right-center field with runners on first and second, preserving an 8-4 lead at the time.
The Dodgers' starter, Walker Buehler, struggled, giving up eight hits and seven runs in four innings. It 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 entire 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery. Buehler struck out two and walked one.
Ninth-Inning Heroics
Jason Heyward's fourth career grand slam, coming off Tyler Kinley, was a turning point. The slam followed walks by Andy Pages and Miguel Vargas and a single by Miguel Rojas. Heyward's fourth homer of the season hit the right-field foul pole. "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."
Hernandez's three-run homer, his 18th of the season, capped off the Dodgers' rally, making it 11-9. His hit cleared the wall, causing a confrontation between Colorado right fielder Jake Cave and first base umpire Lance Barksdale, who had ruled that Hernandez did not commit to a swing earlier in the at-bat. Colorado manager Bud Black argued the call and was ejected from the game, and after the game ended, Cave had to be restrained by bench coach Mike Redmond.
"It was close. You can call it either way, and it will be fine," Hernandez said. "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."
Closing the Game
Relief pitcher Evan Phillips secured the victory by getting the only batter he faced, Hunter Goodman, out with a runner on second, recording his 11th save in as many chances. "It was crazy. You can't feel anything. It's like your first date; you are tripping over stuff. But awesome," said Dodgers reliever Michael Petersen (1-0), who worked two innings and struck out two in his major league debut.
Looking Forward
With this victory, the Dodgers have now won four of their last five games and are 73-32 against Colorado since 2018. Los Angeles will look to build on this momentum as they continue their quest for postseason success. Meanwhile, the Rockies have lost five of their last six games and will need to regroup quickly to avoid falling further in the standings.
The Dodgers' historic comeback not only ended a decades-long losing streak but also showcased the team's resilience and depth, serving as a reminder of their potential as they move closer to the postseason. It's moments like these that define a season and ignite hope for both players and fans alike.