Dodgers walk-off win/ Ohtani and Betts home runs/ Dodgers comeback/ Newslooks/ LOS ANGELES/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts hit back-to-back home runs in the ninth inning, rallying the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-5 win over the Colorado Rockies. Ohtani’s game-tying homer was his 53rd of the season, and Betts sealed the comeback with a walk-off blast. The Dodgers maintain their lead in the National League West as they head into a crucial series against the Padres.
Dodgers Rally Over Rockies: Quick Look
- Shohei Ohtani hit his 53rd home run in the ninth to tie the game, followed by Mookie Betts’ walk-off homer for a 6-5 Dodgers win.
- Ohtani had four hits, two stolen bases, and has now totaled 53 homers and 55 steals this season.
- Dodgers’ pitching staff recorded 17 strikeouts, with Blake Treinen striking out the side in the ninth.
- Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela allowed one run over five innings, and Brendan Rodgers drove in two runs early for Colorado.
- The win keeps the Dodgers three games ahead in the NL West, with an upcoming series against the Padres.
Dodgers’ Late Surge: Ohtani and Betts Power 6-5 Win Over Rockies
Deep Look
Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts powered a dramatic ninth-inning comeback for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, delivering back-to-back home runs to lift the team to a 6-5 win over the Colorado Rockies. Ohtani, continuing his historic season, hit a game-tying homer off Rockies rookie Seth Halvorsen, and Betts followed with a game-ending blast to send Dodgers fans home ecstatic.
Leading off the ninth inning with the Dodgers trailing 5-4, Ohtani crushed an 89-mph split-finger pitch over the right-center field wall for his 53rd home run of the season. He added two stolen bases to his tally, bringing his season totals to 53 home runs and 55 steals — a feat unmatched in MLB history.
Mookie Betts followed Ohtani’s homer with his own, sending a 101-mph sinker from Halvorsen (2-1) over the left-field fence for his 19th home run of the season and sealing the Dodgers’ win. “It was huge,” Betts said of the win, “especially when you’re looking at the scoreboard and you see San Diego won. We needed this game.” Betts credited Ohtani for sparking the rally, adding, “Shohei starts it off with a homer to give us some energy, and I was able to put a good swing on it.”
Halvorsen, a rookie making his 10th career appearance, had earned his first career save just the day before. Reflecting on his ninth-inning struggles, Halvorsen remarked, “You never want to expect the outcome of a pitch. You focus on the process and executing, but they’re tough hitters.”
The Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto, vying for a playoff rotation spot, struggled in his third start back from a lengthy injury stint. He allowed four runs on five hits in just three innings, walking three batters. Despite his rough outing, Yamamoto is still expected to be a key part of the Dodgers’ postseason pitching staff, likely as their No. 2 starter.
On the offensive side, Teoscar Hernández and Kiké Hernández both contributed solo home runs for the Dodgers, who racked up a season-high 17 strikeouts from five different pitchers. Blake Treinen (7-3) closed the game with a dominant performance, striking out the side in the top of the ninth to keep the deficit at one run.
Teoscar Hernández’s home run, his 31st of the season, was the only run the Dodgers managed against Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela, who pitched five innings and allowed one run. The Rockies, who are fighting to avoid their second consecutive 100-loss season, started strong, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
Ezequiel Tovar and Ryan McMahon both singled, and after a walk to Michael Toglia, Brendan Rodgers hit a two-run single to open the scoring. Nolan Jones added another run with an RBI groundout, giving the Rockies early momentum.
However, the Dodgers clawed their way back into the game, with Ohtani leading the charge. Over the past week, Ohtani has been red-hot, going 16 for 32 (.500) with six home runs, seven stolen bases, 17 RBIs, and a remarkable 1.668 OPS. Betts praised Ohtani’s contributions, joking, “That’s why he got $700 million to carry us, and we just have to support him.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also marveled at Ohtani’s performance, saying, “He just doesn’t seem human right now. I really haven’t seen a player locked in like Shohei is for as long as he has been.”
For the Rockies, the loss was another blow in a difficult season. They need three wins in their final six games to avoid their second consecutive 100-loss campaign. Brendan Rodgers and Nolan Jones drove in the bulk of the Rockies’ runs, but their bullpen couldn’t hold the lead late.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, remain focused on the postseason, with a three-game series against the San Diego Padres next on the schedule. Two wins against their division rivals would clinch their 11th NL West title in the last 12 seasons.
“It’s going to be fun,” Betts said, looking ahead to the Padres series. “There’s going to be a lot of energy, a lot of emotions. These are the games we dream of playing.”
Trainer’s Room
- Dodgers: Third baseman Max Muncy missed Sunday’s game with soreness in his side after diving for a ball on Saturday. His status for the upcoming series is unclear.
Up Next
- Rockies: Right-hander Ryan Feltner (3-10, 4.73 ERA) starts Tuesday as the Rockies open their final homestand of the season against the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Dodgers: Right-hander Landon Knack (3-4, 3.39 ERA) will take the mound on Tuesday in the first game of a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres.
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