LOS ANGELES -- For the first 91 games of their season, the Dodgers had been able to wrap up their wins and losses within the standard nine innings. But that was not to be on Monday night.\n\nIn a game where the Dodgers were giving away a bobblehead commemorating Freddie Freeman's walk-off home run in Game 3 of the World Series, nine innings were never going to be enough. At least this time, the Dodgers didn't have to play 18 innings, walking off the Rockies, 8-7, on a
Ninety-two games is the second longest into a season a team has gone without playing an extra-inning game all time, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Only the 2005 Red Sox went longer, first going to extras in Game 99.\n\n\"The games that we need to win, we win,\" manager Dave Roberts said. \"And if there is a bottom of the ninth at home, we find a way to finish it off.\"
The Dodgers held a 6-1 lead through four innings, getting on the board with Shohei Ohtani's 299th career home run in the third and stacking a four-spot on the Rockies one inning later. Colorado chipped away, but L.A. still held what seemed to be a comfortable three-run lead going into the ninth inning.\n\nThe Rockies rallied to tie the game against left-hander Tanner Scott. They were inches away from taking the lead on a two-out bases-loaded double from Cole Carrigg that brought two runners home safely. Hunter Goodman was initially also called safe at home, but the Dodgers challenged, believing that the relay from Andy Pages to Miguel Rojas to Rushing had been on time.\n\nThe review found that Rushing had tagged Goodman's hand before he reached the plate. The Rockies countered with a challenge of their own, contending that Rushing had blocked the plate. No violation was found, and the game went to the bottom of the ninth, when the Dodgers failed to score.\n\n\"I thought it was close enough on our side that we should challenge him, for sure,\" Rushing said. \"I knew I got him on the hand. Obviously, I didn't have a look on whether he stuck his hand in or not, but yeah, we've done such a great job with the little things.\"
In the top of the 10th, the Rockies scratched across their automatic runner, Carrigg, on a Jake McCarthy groundout. Carrigg and Rushing exchanged some heated words at the plate, leading to a smattering of Dodgers and Rockies leaving the benches in preparation for a fracas that did not materialize. The Dodgers also scored their automatic runner in the bottom half of the inning but failed to take the lead.\n\nAfter Edgardo Henriquez pitched a scoreless top of the 11th -- capped by him starting an inning-ending double play -- the Rockies intentionally walked Max Muncy. A Tommy Edman sacrifice bunt allowed both runners to move up a base. Rushing grounded a ball through a drawn-in infield off Jimmy Herget, ensuring the Dodgers' first foray into extras this season would be a happy one.\n\n\"It wasn't pretty,\" Rushing said, \"but it worked.\"\n\nIt was Rushing's second walk-off hit of the season and of his career. It has been just over two weeks since his first, which came on June 20 against the Orioles. In that span, the second-year catcher has done a better job of reining in the passion he plays with and channeling it into getting results.\n\nAfter Rushing's three-hit night, he has gone 12-for-29 (.414) in his past nine games. Lately, while filling in for injured starting catcher Will Smith, he has been the sparkplug the Dodgers needed.
\"I think he plays with a lot of moxie,\" said