Hayward's slam, Hernandez's 3-run shot highlight 7-run ninth as Dodgers beat Rockies 11-9

DENVER (AP) — Jason Heyward hit a pinch-hit grand slam and Teoscar Hernandez added a three-run homer — all in a seven-run ninth inning — as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for a wild 11-9 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.

“It was quality of at-bat 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’s fourth career grand slam came off Tyler Kinley and followed walks by Andy Pages and Miguel Vargas around a single by Miguel Rojas. Heyward's fourth homer of the season hit the right field foul pole and pulled the Dodgers within 9-8 with one out in the inning after they trailed 7-2 after four.

“I wasn't sure if it was going to stay fair or not,” said Heyward, who hit an inside slider, “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.

Shohei Ohtani, who had a 476-foot homer in the fifth, singled off Victor Vodnik (1-1) before Will Smith struck out looking after attempting to step out of the batter’s box on a 3-2 pitch.

After a wild pitch, Freddie Freeman received an intentional walk, his sixth walk in the last two games, bringing up Hernandez. Hernandez took a half-swing at a 1-2 fastball and first base umpire Lance Barksdale ruled that Hernandez did not commit. Colorado manager Bud Black argued the call and was ejected.

On the next pitch, Hernandez hit his 18th home to make it 11-9.

After Hernandez’s ball cleared the wall, Colorado right field Jake Cave immediately took a few steps toward Barksdale and began yelling. Rockies’ second baseman Alan Trejo stepped between Cave and Barksdale after the inning ended.

“It was close," Hernandez said. “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 know something was going to happen. I just wanted to get a good pitch hit to tie the game. I put a little extra and it went over the fence. I knew as soon as I hit. It was great, especially because it put the team ahead.”

Evan Phillips got the only batter he faced, Hunter Goodman, with a runner on second to record his 11th save in as many chances. Cave, the on-deck hitter, was restrained by bench Mike Redmond as he attempted to reach Barksdale after the game ended.

“When I’m running in (before the last of the ninth), he looks me right in the face and goes, ’Cave, it’s not even close,'" Cave said. "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."

Elehuris Montero and Brenton Doyle homered for the Rockies, who scored four runs in the first and twice led by five runs.

Doyle added three singles for his first career four-hit game, scored twice, and made a diving catch of Ohtani’s line drive to right-center field with runners on first and second and two outs in the seventh inning, preserving an 8-4 lead.

Dodgers starter Walker Buehler gave up eight hits and seven runs in four innings. It was the first time the 29-yeaer-old right-hander allowed more than three earned runs since returning to the rotation May 6 after missing the 2023 season because of Tommy John surgery. He struck out two and walked one.

Pages also homered for the Dodgers, who have won four of five and are 73-32 against Colorado since 2018. The Rockies have lost five of six.

Michael Petersen (1-0) worked two innings of relief and struck out two in his major league debut.

“It was crazy,” said Petersen, whose relatives were in attendance. “You can't feel anything. It's like your first date, you are tripping over stuff. But awesome.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (shoulder surgery) is scheduled to pitch three innings for Class A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday in his first rehab start of the season. “He’s doing fantastic,” manager Dave Roberts said, adding that Kershaw will follow the natural progression of two or three more rehab starts “and then we’ll see where we are at.”

Rockies: DH/OF Charlie Blackmon (right hamstring tightness) was removed after suffering his injury while running the bases in the first. … LHP Kyle Freeland (elbow strain) gave up two hits and two runs and struck out four in four innings of a rehab start for Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday and appears close to returning. … 2B Brendan Rodgers (hamstring) did normal pregame work Tuesday and is expected to begin a rehab assignment on Thursday with an eye toward a weekend activation. … OF Sean Bouchard (ankle) led off and was 1 for 3 with two walks as the DH for Albuquerque.

NEXT UP

Dodgers RHP Bobby Miller (1-1, 5.40 ERA) will oppose Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (1-6, 5.71) in the third game of a four-game series. Miller will make his fourth start, his first since April 10, after missing nine weeks with right shoulder inflammation. He won in his only previous appearance at Coors Field, 7-2, on Sept. 26, 2023.

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Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas, left, tags out Colorado Rockies' Hunter Goodman in a rundown between first and second base in the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 18, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Tyler Kinley reacts after giving up a grand slam to Los Angeles Dodgers pinch-hitter Jason Heyward during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 18, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández gestures after hitting a three-run home run off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Victor Vodnik during the ninth nning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 18, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani breaks from the batter's box after singling against Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Victor Vodnik during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 18, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández watches his three-run home run off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Victor Vodnik during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 18, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Dodgers pinch-hitter Jason Heyward watches his grand slam off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Tyler Kinley during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 18, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jordan Battle came away with some important details during last week's film study of the Miami Dolphins.

The Bengals safety said Thursday he had a tell on Malik Willis that he hoped would lead to success against the Dolphins quarterback.

"He has a little slight little tap before every throw," Battle said this week, “so I feel like we could use that as a key to break on the ball. He likes to tap the ball before he throws it, or he takes his hand off.”

Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley was asked about Battle's viral comments on Friday and indicated he wasn't worried, saying it's a common practice for quarterbacks before throwing the ball.

Still, Battle's studies apparently worked. He intercepted Willis on back-to-back drives in the second quarter of Sunday's 31-24 win over the Dolphins to help Cincinnati (3-2) snap a two-game skid.

“You study players and see things,” Battle said after the win, downplaying his previous comments, "but it’s just trusting the game plan and putting me in position to make plays.”

Battle intercepted Willis after the quarterback's arm was hit making a throw early in the second and jumped in front of a pass meant for receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. on the next drive. Willis didn't appear to tap the ball before either play and said afterward that the second interception was the result of a scramble-drill mishap in which two of his receivers started running in the same direction.

“That’s not a tell. He got tipped balls,” Willis said of Battle. “I mean, good for him. That’s what defenses are supposed to do at this level. They’re a great defense, and they have a great front. We talked about that all week. They batted a ball down and the second one is a scramble drill mishap. That has nothing to do with tells. I don’t think I patted either one of those. I don’t think those are correlated.”

Battle and the Bengals defense were able to take advantage of an uneven day from Willis throwing the ball. The Dolphins quarterback who signed a three-year, $67.5 million deal this offseason started the game 0-for-4 passing and had just five completions in the first half.

Willis finished 15 of 27 with 137 yards. He had a touchdown pass and rushed for a score and lost a fumble at the Dolphins 9 with Miami trailing by 10 points in the fourth.

Battle had seven tackles and two pass breakups for the Bengals. The South Florida native said he gave the first ball he intercepted to his mom and the second one to his dad.

“I have to think back to who got me here," Battle said. “A great supporting cast. They come to almost every game. I thank them for that.”

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Cincinnati Bengals safety Jordan Battle (27) and Miami Dolphins cornerback Chris Johnson (3) exchange game jerseys after an NFL football game in Miami Gardens, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Cincinnati Bengals safety Jordan Battle, left, celebrates with safety Bryan Cook (6) after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Miami Gardens, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Cincinnati Bengals safety Jordan Battle (27) intercepts a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Miami Gardens, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)