Dodgers Battle Drone Delay, Late Grand Slam in Come From Behind Winner

In a whirlwind of a game, the Dodgers found themselves trailing late after Caleb Ferguson served up a grand slam to the Rockies. However, it appears that’s where the offense wanted to be… first, let’s take a step back.

The early part of the game played like a pitcher’s duel. Through 6 innings, the two clubs were knotted at 2 but along the way, there was a surprising delay at Dodger Stadium. A drone paid a visit to the ballpark.

A security guard walked on to the field, pointed in the air, motioned to the umpire, and now is waving players off the field. There's a drone overhead.

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) September 5, 2020

Dodgers infielder Enrique Hernandez was in the middle of an in-game interview when it happened.

It seems like we’ve got a little bit of a situation with a drone here. … I DON’T FEEL SAFE!

Kiké vs. drone ? pic.twitter.com/xqAeO46YsD

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 5, 2020

The drone delay stopped play for a few minutes as the device took its time to fly away from the field. Once play resumed, Hernandez joking suggested that Cincinnati Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer could be in town scouting the Dodgers for a potential playoff matchup. And, of course, the internet worked fast to link the more likely culprits that would be interested in cheating and have the rap sheet to prove it.

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See you next weekend, Trashtros.

After the game, Dave Roberts was frustrated by the stoppage and hopeful it would not happen again. – End saga –

Back To The Action

The game got spicy after the drone delay. With the Dodgers chasing 2-1 through 5.5 innings, Will Smith connected on his third home run since coming off the injured list. The 2-run shot was followed by a Gavin Lux walk and an eventual Corey Seager sacrifice fly, putting the boys in blue up 5-2.

Things then quickly unraveled for LA in the 8th inning after Brusdar Graterol recorded two outs between a hit batter and a walk. He made way for Ferguson who promptly allowed a bloop single and a grand slam to put the Dodgers down 6-5.

Then AJ Pollock took matters into his own hands.

After a leadoff single by Cody Bellinger, Pollock drilled a 1-1 fastball into the stands to put the Dodgers back on top 7-6. After the game, AJ noted that you can never count the Dodgers out of it…

"I don't think there's any game where we don't feel there's a chance … we know we're always in it." AJ Pollock on #Dodgers offense.

— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) September 5, 2020

I don’t think there’s any game where we don’t feel there’s a chance … we know we’re always in it.

The homer opened the flood gates for the league’s best offense late in games.

By hitting 4 HRs in 7th and 8th innings v Rockies #Dodgers have now outscored their opponents 81-34 in 7th inning and later

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) September 5, 2020

Joc Pederson followed Pollock with a solo shot, and Mookie Betts chipped in a 2-run dinger of his own four batters later — a home run caught by a familiar face in the left field pavilion — that put LA up 10-6.

The 5 run inning would be more than enough for Kenley Jansen in the 9th who worked a shaky but scoreless final frame of the game.

Recap

So, the TL;DR version of the game:

• Dustin May fans 5 over a solid 5.2 IP
• A drone stopped the game and nearly took out Kiké Hernandez
• The bullpen falters but the Dodger bats pick them up with a 5-run bottom of the 8th
• A cardboard cutout of a fan got hit in the head for the second time this season
• The Dodgers became the first team in baseball to hit the 30 win mark in 2020
  • LA tied its best 40-game start in franchise history

Up Next

The Catman Tony Gonsolin (0-0, 0.51 ERA) makes his first start as an official member of the starting rotation on Caturday and his fifth of the season against Rockies right-hander German Marquez (2-5, 4.88 ERA) at Dodger Stadium.

NEXT: Rob Manfred Defends His Rule Change Decisions and Blasts Fans in the Process