Los Angeles, Ca
Dodgers complete remarkable comeback with 7-run 9th to beat Rockies
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.
Los Angeles, Ca
Burger King is giving away free chicken sandwiches and bacon cheeseburgers
Burger King is still spreading holiday cheer with after Christmas food deals.
The burger chain has celebrated the holidays all month long with its 31-day deal promotion for rewards members and has saved some of its best deals for the end of the year.
On Friday, Dec. 27, and Monday, Dec. 30, customers can get a free original chicken sandwich and bacon cheeseburger with a $1 purchase. The chain is also offering its famous Whoppers for $3 on Wednesday.
The chain started its month-long celebration by offering free burgers and sodas earlier this month. The promotion also saw the return of fan-favorite items, such as its four-piece cheesy tots — reintroduced nationwide last December — and the croissant breakfast sandwich.
Los Angeles, Ca
Laugh Factory serves over 2,000 holiday meals to those in need for 45th year
For the 45th consecutive year, the Laugh Factory in Hollywood opened its doors on Christmas Day to serve thousands of free meals to the homeless and those in need.
Owner Jamie Masada and a team of volunteers, including stars like Tim Allen, Tiffany Haddish, and Craig Robinson, hosted the annual event, which featured food, comedy shows, and holiday cheer.
More than 2,000 meals were served throughout the day, accompanied by live performances to keep spirits high.
“I’m lucky I’m asked to do this,” comedian Tim Allen told KTLA’s Gene Kang. “Feed everyone who needs to be fed.”
Among the attendees was Army veteran Ned Moore, who reflected on the importance of compassion during the holidays. “The Christmas spirit is to care about people all year, not just one day,” he said.
In addition to meals and laughter, children were given free toys, bringing smiles to many young faces. “When I see the joy on the children and parents’ faces, just to have a place to go, it’s a blessing,” said Laugh Factory President David Fuhrer.
For one couple, the event was a memorable holiday date night.
“The atmosphere here is wonderful,” said attendee Madeline. “The food is delicious, and I enjoy the comedy show.”
Volunteers, many of whom return year after year, said the event embodies the true spirit of the season.
“Laughter and helping people go hand in hand,” said volunteer Ben Varadi. His sons, Jacob and Robert, added, “The best part is helping the community.”
Los Angeles, Ca
Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, begins. Here's the history
LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – Jews around the world are marking the start of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, which celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the second century B.C. after it was defiled by Syrian Greeks.
This eight-day holiday starts on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, usually falling in December. In 2024, Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 25 and ends at sundown on January 2, 2025.
The story of Hanukkah begins in 168 B.C. when the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes banned Jewish religious practices and desecrated the Second Temple by setting up an altar to Zeus and sacrificing pigs.
This led to a revolt led by the Jewish priest Mattathias and his five sons, known as the Maccabees.
The Seleucid Empire, one of the successor states of Alexander the Great’s empire, was vast and powerful.
Judah Maccabee, one of Mattathias’s sons, and his followers fought a guerrilla war against the Seleucids.
Despite being vastly outnumbered, the Maccabees won several battles and eventually took back Jerusalem. When they reclaimed the Temple, they found only a small amount of oil left to light the menorah, the Temple’s candelabrum. The oil, believed to only be enough for one day, lasted for eight days.
This ancient miracle is the basis of Hanukkah, which means “dedication” in Hebrew.
Jews celebrate the holiday by lighting the menorah, with one more candle lit each night until all eight are lit on the final night. Traditional foods like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts) are fried in oil, symbolizing the miracle of the oil.
Other customs include playing the game of dreidle and exchanging gifts.
Although Hanukkah is not as religiously significant as holidays such as Passover or Yom Kippur, it holds a special place in Jewish culture as a reminder of the Jewish people’s resilience and faith in the face of oppression.
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