Dodgers Take Advantage Of Controversial Call, Immediately Hit Game-Winning HR

It's been a rough week for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Though they sit in first place, well ahead of the rest of the National League West, the Dodgers lost superstar shortstop Mookie Betts for at least 6-8 weeks after he was hit in the hand by a 98mph fastball on Sunday.

That came one day after losing rookie phenom Yoshinobu Yamamoto for an undetermined amount of time with a strained rotator cuff. But if there's one thing the modern Dodgers have excelled at, it's building depth to sustain injury issues. And that depth was on full display in a crazy, wild, insane finish during Tuesday night's game in Denver against the Colorado Rockies. Oh, and they also benefited from a controversial no-call on a checked swing.

After a rocky start from Walker Buehler, it seemed like the Rockies would cruise to an easy win. Even after a mammoth 476-foot home run from Shohei Ohtani.

The Rockies then got a remarkable diving catch from Brenton Doyle in center field to save two runs in the 7th inning, robbing Ohtani of a double into the gap.

They added on another run, taking a 9-4 lead into the top of the 9th inning. That's when things quickly went haywire.

Andy Pages walked, Miguel Rojas hit a bloop single to center, and Miguel Vargas walked after a Kiké Hernandez strikeout. That led to a Jason Heyward pinch-hit grand slam off the foul pole.

That made Shohei Ohtani the tying run at the plate, and he promptly banged a single the opposite way. A wild pitch, strikeout and intentional walk to Freddie Freeman put runners at first and second with two out. That's when the controversy started.

Teoscar Hernandez appeared to have gone around on a 1-2 pitch, but first base umpire Lance Barksdale, to the despair of the Rockies bench, said he didn't go.

The very next pitch, Hernandez launched a three-run homer to right center field.

Jun 18, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernandez (37) gestures as he rounds the bases on a three run home run in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Dodgers Complete Insane Comeback To Beat Rockies

Thanks to the reprieve on the checked swing, the Dodgers were able to score seven runs in the ninth inning to win 11-9 after trailing 9-4 entering the inning. Only the Rockies.

Debate over the checked swing seems to be pretty evenly split. The rule is open to interpretation, and while that type of checked swing is usually called a strike, it's a 50/50 call. Rockies fans think he went, Dodgers fans think he didn't.

The only opinion that mattered though, was Barksdale's, and it led directly to one of the most remarkable comebacks you'll ever see. The win pushed the Dodgers to 46-29 and cemented a commanding nine game lead over the second place Arizona Diamondbacks. 

Lose Mookie Betts? Rely on Jason Heyward and Teoscar Hernandez to deliver. Lose Yoshinobu Yamamoto? Bobby Miller returns Wednesday. The Dodgers are tough to beat, especially when they get the calls they need.