Dodgers Mount Dramatic Ninth-Inning Rally to Stun Twins 4–3 After Bullpen Falters and Tyler’s Strong Start Nearly Goes to Waste
The Dodgers rallied to score two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat the Minnesota Twins 4–3, a dramatic comeback that salvaged a game which had nearly slipped away. Built on the sturdy shoulders of Tyler’s strong start, the Dodgers looked poised to cruise to a win — until the bullpen let things unravel late, setting the stage for one of the most thrilling finishes of the 2025 season.
Tyler, whose performance through the first six innings was nothing short of masterful, seemed in complete control. His fastball was crisp, his breaking ball was sharp, and the Twins were largely kept off balance. At one point, he retired 11 straight batters, working with the confidence of a pitcher who understood both the stakes and the moment. Pitch after pitch, inning after inning, he navigated the lineup with surgical precision. He wasn’t overpowering hitters as much as he was outsmarting them.
By the time Tyler exited the game, he had given up only one run and handed over a 2–1 lead to a Dodgers bullpen that has been largely dependable all year. It looked like a textbook win in progress: a quality start, a couple of timely runs, and a shutdown bullpen to close the door. But baseball rarely follows a script, especially when you think it will.
In the eighth inning, cracks began to show. A leadoff walk — always a dangerous omen — put pressure on the Dodgers’ reliever. A bloop single followed, and before long, the Twins had runners on base and momentum building. Despite a couple of strikeouts, the Dodgers couldn’t fully escape the jam. A well-timed double down the right field line brought in the tying run, and moments later, the go-ahead run scored on a shallow single to left. Just like that, a 2–1 Dodgers lead had turned into a 3–2 deficit.
The crowd at Dodger Stadium, boisterous all evening, fell into a nervous silence. It was the kind of turn that can gut a home team — especially after a stellar performance by the starting pitcher. Tyler, who had been so dominant, could only watch from the dugout as the lead he helped build crumbled. He chewed gum, his face calm but eyes fixed. It’s one of the crueler parts of the game: when a great effort doesn’t translate into a win.
But the 2025 Dodgers are nothing if not resilient, and what followed in the bottom of the ninth was a masterclass in both discipline and drama. Down by a run, with only three outs to work with, the Dodgers came up to bat against Twins closer Jhoan Duran, a flamethrower with one of the nastiest repertoires in the league.
The inning began with a patient at-bat from leadoff man Gavin Lux, who worked a full count and fouled off two tough pitches before drawing a walk. It wasn’t flashy, but it was the kind of grinding plate appearance that winning teams are built on. With the tying run now on base, the energy in the stadium began to return.
Next came Miguel Vargas, who squared to bunt on the first pitch but pulled back. On the next pitch, he slapped a sharp single through the left side of the infield, sending Lux to second and igniting the crowd. Suddenly, the Dodgers had something cooking — no outs, two on, and the heart of their lineup coming to the plate.
Chris Taylor was called on to pinch-hit and executed a perfect sacrifice bunt, moving both runners into scoring position. It was the type of unselfish, strategic baseball that gets overlooked in highlight reels but makes all the difference in winning close games. The Twins, sensing the danger, brought their infield in. They were trying to cut off the tying run at the plate, but the Dodgers smelled blood.
With one out, it was James Outman who stepped in. He had struck out earlier in the game, but now he looked composed and focused. Duran tried to overpower him with heat, but Outman fouled off three pitches to stay alive. Then, on a 2–2 count, he lashed a line drive into right field. It wasn’t hit particularly hard, but it was perfectly placed. Lux scored easily. Tie game.
Dodger Stadium exploded. Fans leapt out of their seats. Tyler, in the dugout, clapped hard and smiled for the first time since exiting the game. The Dodgers had pulled even, and now they had a chance to win.
That opportunity came with Mookie Betts at the plate — the player every Dodger fan wanted in that moment. A former MVP and proven clutch performer, Betts didn’t waste time. He took a pitch, fouled one off, then sent a sharp grounder up the middle. The Twins’ shortstop made a diving attempt but couldn’t get to it in time. Vargas scored. Game over.
As Betts rounded first, arms raised, the rest of the Dodgers mobbed him. Fireworks erupted. Music blasted through the speakers. It wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. The Dodgers, despite a late-inning collapse, found a way to fight back, to grind out at-bats, to play smart baseball, and to deliver when it mattered most.
For Tyler, the win was bittersweet. He didn’t factor into the decision, despite arguably being the best player on the field for much of the night. But as he embraced his teammates and celebrated with the rest of the club, it was clear that his efforts weren’t forgotten. The Dodgers knew what he gave them — a chance to win. And in the end, that’s exactly what they did.
This game may not count any more than the rest in the standings, but it will be remembered. It was a win pulled from the jaws of defeat. It was a team refusing to let a strong outing go to waste. It was the kind of victory that builds confidence, reinforces belief, and sends a message to the rest of the league.
The Dodgers didn’t play a perfect game. They let a lead slip away. Their bullpen faltered. But they fought. They battled. They won.
That’s what championship teams do.
And as the players walked off the field, with cheers still echoing in the stadium and the score now final at 4–3, everyone watching knew they had witnessed something special — a reminder that in baseball, no game is over until the last out, and that sometimes, the most meaningful wins are the ones you have to take back with force.
