The Los Angeles Dodgers completed their previous homestand in record fashion behind a rookie hitting a walk-off home run in three consecutive games.
The mark was set when Matt Beaty and Alex Verdugo hit walk-off homers in back-to-back games, which Will Smith extended and gave the Dodgers another MLB record with four home runs to end a game being hit by a rookie.
While the accomplishments were monumental in their own right, that wound up serving as a springboard for what’s been an improbable run at Dodger Stadium. L.A. returned from a bit of a disappointing road trip to face the same Arizona Diamondbacks team that won two of three at Chase Field last week.
The Dodgers were one strike away from losing for a fourth time in the past five head-to-head meetings with the Diamondbacks, but Greg Holland imploded. He and TJ McFarland combined to walk five batters in a row, bringing in the tying and game-winning runs.
The walk-off win was the Dodgers’ fourth straight. They became the first team in franchise history with four-straight walk-off wins, plus the first in MLB history to have a walk-off win come via five consecutive walks when being down to their final out.
Just as it seemed the drama couldn’t reach another level, the Dodgers stunned the Diamondbacks yet again. This time, on Cody Bellinger’s home run in the 10th inning to give them a fifth walk-off win in a row.
Following another thrilling night at Dodger Stadium, Bellinger attempted to describe what the Dodgers have accomplished, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“I think it’s just pretty crazy what we’re doing. I don’t know, there’s not many words you can say to describe it. Being part of it is pretty special.”
The Dodgers are now the fifth team in the live-ball era (since 1920) to win via walk-off in five or more straight games in a single season. They are tied with the 2004 Oakland Athletics, 1986 San Diego Padres and 1986 Houston Astros.
The 2000 Kansas City Royals hold the MLB record with six walk-off wins in one season.
Overall, the Dodgers have won in walk-off fashion eight times this year. Of those, six have come via a home run — with Joc Pederson, Smith (twice), Beaty, Verdugo and Bellinger doing the honor.
Bellinger’s walk-off home run Wednesday was the first of his career and a second long ball on the night. On top of the Dodgers adding to their magical stretch, Bellinger made franchise history by reaching 29 home runs before the All-Star break.
The all-time Dodgers record was previously shared by Gil Hodges (1951) and Duke Snider (1955), who each hit 28 homers.
