DENVER — It was a comeback for the ages.
The Dodgers struck for seven runs in the ninth inning on the strength of a grand slam by pinch-hitter Jason Heyward and a three-run home run by Teoscar Hernandez, turning a five-run deficit into an 11-9 victory on Tuesday night as part of a slugfest between the NL West-leading Dodgers and the last-place Rockies.
According to Elias, the last time the Dodgers overcame a deficit of five runs or more in the ninth inning or later was July 18, 1957 against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Tuesday’s epic turnaround masked another concerning outing by star pitcher Walker Buehler, who is struggling to regain his form after missing the entire 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Even before the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts counseled patience for Buehler.
“The competitor in him wants and expects him to go out there and pitch as an ace tonight, right now, but I think it’s a coach’s job to kind of temper expectations at certain times,” Roberts said before Tuesday’s game.
His words of caution played out in the heat of the game as Buehler was hit hard early by the Rockies, but Buehler’s teammates roared back to take him off the hook.
Tyler Kinley issued two walks around a single to Miguel Rojas as the Dodgers loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, bringing up Heyward, who was batting for Chris Taylor. Heyward came through with his fourth career grand slam, hitting the foul pole down the right field line to bring the Dodgers to within 9-8.
Victor Vodnik relieved Kinley and Shohei Ohtani singled to keep the rally alive. Vodnik fanned Will Smith for the second out and Freddie Freeman was walked intentionally, bringing up Hernandez. With two strikes, Hernandez checked his swing on a pitch. Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman appealed the call but first base umpire Lance Barksdale ruled he didn’t go around. Rockies manager Bud Black argued the ruling and was ejected.
Hernandez drilled the next pitch he saw from Vodnik (1-1) for his 18th homer of the season, a three-run shot into right center field that put the Dodgers over the top.
Michael Petersen (1-0) allowed one run in two innings to pick up the win and Alex Vesia notched his 11th save.
Ohtani and Andy Pages homered earlier for the Dodgers. Ohtani’s homer off Austin Gomber leading off the sixth was his 20th of the season and landed in the stand of evergreens beyond the centerfield fence, traveling 476 feet, the longest home run in the majors this season.
Buehler hit the first batter he faced, Charlie Blackmon, with a pitch and the next three batters he faced all connected for hits. He trailed 4-0 after the first inning and wound up going four innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits, including home runs by Elehuris Montero and Brenton Doyle. He struck out two and walked one.
His ERA stands at 5.84 eight starts into a comeback campaign that includes his first win in nearly two years but also a series of ragged outings that demonstrate the rocky road he faces in recapturing his dominating mound presence, epitomized by his 16-win season in 2021.
The Rockies Doyle played a big role in quashing a potential game-turning rally in the seventh. With two outs and two on, Ohtani hit a sinking liner that center fielder Doyle sprinted after, leaping at the last moment to catch the ball in mid-air before crashing to the ground. The play robbed Ohtani of extra bases and deprived the Dodgers of two runs.
More to come on this story.
Heyward with the grand slam!! pic.twitter.com/V0mVaTL1Yr
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) June 19, 2024
GO-AHEAD TEO! pic.twitter.com/NdUi2LMIRx
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) June 19, 2024
.@kirsten_watson speaks with Teoscar Hernández about his game winning home run and the #Dodgers comeback.
Catch all the action with #DodgersTV, on us!
: https://t.co/i0HWddfBus pic.twitter.com/uByJKJ4zVN
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) June 19, 2024
476 feet from Shohei. pic.twitter.com/0wXOR7Czyf
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 19, 2024