September 1st, 2016 at 6:36 am 
by Ron Cervenka Dodger fans who stuck it out to the very end of game-2 of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies were not only treated to arguably the most exciting game of the season, they also witnessed history.
Trailing by a score of 8-2 heading into the top of the eighth inning, only four Dodger teams in franchise history had rallied back from a six-run deficit after the seventh inning to comeback and win – the first was in 1899 when the Dodgers were known the Brooklyn Superbas against the Cleveland Spiders and the most recent on August 9, 2013 in the infamous Fernando Rodney throwing error game.
But while it is absolutely impossible to ignore Dodgers rookie outfielder Andrew Toles‘ two-out, 0-1 count, opposite field grand slam home run as one of the greatest moments in Dodgers history, there was another huge moment during that historic inning – two, actually – that will probably forever be forgotten that actually made Toles’ historic slam possible.
After Dodgers rookie phenom shortstop Corey Seager led off the top of the ninth inning with a five-pitch walk, third baseman Justin Turner struck out swinging. This was followed by an Adrian Gonzalez line drive out to Rockies shortstop Christhian Adames in which Seager had to dive back to first base to avoid being doubled up. What made this even stranger is that on the very next pitch to Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal, the Rockies allowed Seager to take second base uncontested on defensive indifference, and why wouldn’t they with an 8-5 lead and two outs. Grandal then singled to left which allowed Seager to advance to third base – still with two outs.
This brought up Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson who drew a huge five-pitch walk, a walk that included several extremely difficult pitches to take off of Rockies closer Adam Ottavino.
“Joc had great at-bat, not chasing pitches out of zone,” Gonzalez would later tell DodgerTalk radio host David Vassegh. “If [Ottavino] gave Joc a good pitch, he might have tied it up.”
But it was the next Dodger batter whose at-bat will, in all likelihood, fall into baseball obscurity; that of (seriously) struggling Dodgers right fielder Josh Reddick, whom the Dodgers acquired at the August 1 non-waiver trade deadline. Since joining the team, Reddick had been mired in an absolutely horrendous 13-for-86 (.151) slump when he stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and representing the go-ahead run. But during Reddick’s anxious at-bat, all eyes (or at least most eyes) were on the man standing in the on-deck circle … Andrew Toles. If Reddick could only get Toles to the plate the Dodgers might actually have a shot at winning this once extremely lopsided blowout.
It’s probably safe to say that no one was more surprised when Reddick lined the first pitch he saw into center field for a single than Josh Reddick himself. Not only did it give him his fourth two-hit game since dawning a Dodgers uniform, it also gave him his first run batted in as a Dodger and cut the Rockies lead to 8-6. It also brought the Dodgers’ hottest young hitter to the plate in Andrew Toles, who had already gone 2-for-4 on the night with an RBI double.
Although it will probably be lost in baseball obscurity, it was Josh Reddick’s RBI single in the top of the ninth inning that set up one of the greatest moments in Dodgers history. (Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)
“That’s why you play nine innings,” Reddick said after the game. “Especially with this lineup. Things can happen at the drop of a hat.”
With the bases still loaded and with the stage now set, and with the guy that every Dodger fan wanted at the plate, Toles lofted Ottavino’s second pitch – a 95-MPH fastball – into the left-center field seats at Coors Field for a grand slam home run to give the Dodgers an absolutely improbable 10-8 lead over the devastated Rockies; a lead from which they were unable to recover from as Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen sealed the deal in the bottom of the ninth to collect his 40th save of the season.
For those who bailed on this game (of which there are far more than will now admit), here’s a look at what is probably the single greatest moment of the Dodgers 2016 season:
Posted in 
I, for one, cheered as loudly for @RealJoshReddick as I did Toles’ GS! I was there! And I didn’t leave! ?????? I would never!
I admit it. I bailed. Damn it.
Good to hear that Reddick was finally a part of a win. Hopefully, at least, “Reversion to the Mean” happens in Reddick’s case.
Lastly, What’s a “Superbas”?
You’re not alone, Box… and who could blame us? The Dodgers offense has been, well… offensive of late. The last five games up until the final two innings yesterday gave us little hope. But this was Coors Field after all. I bailed at the start of the eighth inning. It was too much to endure any further. The Dodgers offense was anemic at best.
I woke up around 2 AM to get a drink of water, stepped up to the computer to check the news and saw the final score. I couldn’t believe my eyes!
I turned on the TV and wound up MLB.TV to watch the final two innings… so although I knew what the final score was, I didn’t know how it ended. What a treat to see Andrew Toles do his magic yet again! And Reddick finally came through on an opportunity to help the club. Such a great win and, if Toles doesn’t get the majority of the starts from here on out… I’m crying conspiracy theory again!
Go Dodgers!!
Seriously?
Superbas=pronounced “soo-perb bas” or “Sue-perb bas”, I read that it was taken from a band or singing group that was popular at that time.
Well, I had good reason for not bailing. I couldn’t get the game here (Colorado, territorial black out). But I have always stayed to the (sometimes) bitter end, even years ago when I was sitting in the left field pavilion.
But now I’m going to watch the game.
Ever time Riddick came to the plate I kept thinking he’d get his first RBI.
It just had to come sooner or later. Last night was the best time for it to happen and it did.
Yeah, I was serious. Only thing I thought, maybe short version of, “Superb as” ?
In any event, I am happy there was people Dodging Trolley’s or we still might be rooting for the “Superbas”
I didn’t mean to imply anything, it’s just that I (incorrectly) read into your comment that you were unaware that the Dodgers were once called the Superbas. I apologize to you for that.
As for what a Superba is, here’s what Fan Graphs had to say in a 2013 article:
Whaddayaknow? I had no idea… even tried the Google thingy for a few minuets. Thanks for sharing that with us, Ron.
Thanks Ron, No worries. Still not sure about “Superbas”. I think I would have done “Super Stars”, but, I guess, I would have had to be there.
Doesn’t seem to be a lot of trollies to dodge in Los Angeles. Then again, there aren’t a whole lot of lakes either (Los Angeles Lakers).
If I may ask another question, since we’ve seemed to morph to baseball history: I recently heard that the St. Louis Cardinals were once known as the St. Louis Browns. My long held understanding was that the Browns were an AL team, now known as the Baltimore Orioles.
Which is correct?
BTW, if I may not ask another question: Sorry, too late.
Sorry no help on Browns question. Very true about no trollies or lakes around LA. But have always liked the Dodgers and Lakers as names. I am just glad the Boston Bean Eaters didn’t move to LA.