Cody Bellinger's Game-Winning Home Run Keeps The Magic Going as Dodgers Rally Past Twins

The oldest guy started it, and the youngest ended it. 

Los Angeles knocked around 44-year-old Bartolo Colon and Cody Bellinger hit a game-winning three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth as the Dodgers came from behind for the 26th time this season to defeat the Minnesota Twins, 6-4, on Monday night at Chavez Ravine.

Colon was making his second start for the Twins after he was released last month by the Atlanta Braves. Before the game, Colon mentioned to reporters that he might consider retiring depending on how his outing against the Dodgers went.

"I might have put some thought into it, it is what it is, but I will be pitching next year because I made a promise," Colon said about retirement.

What was the promise you might ask?

"I made a promise to my mom, that before she left this world, that I would pitch until I'm 45."

Things started smoothly for the Dominican known as "Big Sexy," as he recorded four scoreless innings before getting beat around in the bottom of the fifth.

Trailing 2-0, the Dodgers tied the game with back-to-back home runs by Yasmani Grandal and Joc Pederson off Colon.

The back-to-back jacks were the seventh time the Dodgers have hit consecutive home runs this season, and the first since Corey Seager and Justin Turner went deep on July 1, in San Diego.

Three batters later, Chris Taylor knocked in the go-ahead run with an RBI single, giving him his eighth multi-hit game in his last 10 appearances.

The lead would be short-lived as Eddie Rosario continued to he a thorn in the Boys in Blue side.  

Rosario hit his 11^th home run of the season, a no-doubt shot off Grant Dayton to left field that tied the game at 3-3.

"I tried to hit it with good contact and go opposite field," Rosario said of the game-tying home run. "That’s everything.”

Eddie Rosario uncorks a solo home run over the left-field wall, tying the game at 3 in the top of the 6th inning!!! #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/djNNzBxGV3— TheRenderMLB (@TheRenderMLB) July 25, 2017

One inning later, it was Rosario again who knocked in the go-ahead run as the Twins came from behind to take the lead.

Rosario finished the game 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, three RBI and two runs scored.

"I feel bad," Rosario said after the loss. "I have a good game, but I don’t care right now. I want to win the game, that’s it for me."

The Dodgers MLB record of 46 consecutive victories when taking a lead was in jeopardy with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, but the Boy Wonder struck again, saving the day and the streak for Los Angeles.

"He doesn't scare off in the moment," Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts said of his 22-year-old rookie. "He seems to to something every night. The whole team, really. When we need a big hit, somebody always comes through."

Bellinger launched his team-leading 28^th home run of the season to straightaway center field off left-hander Taylor Rogers for a three-run bomb that gave Los Angeles a 6-4 lead.

"Everyday before the game, I've been working on hitting curveballs, elevating them," Bellinger said of the pitch he sent into orbit for the go-ahead home run. "I just tried to put a good swing on it, and luckily it went out."

One pitch before the home run, Bellinger sliced a 330-foot foul ball down the right field line and was visibly frustrated he had missed an opportunity. Thankfully, another one came on the next pitch. 

"Cody felt that was a pitch he should have handled, but he got in front of it too much," added Roberts. "Fortunately for us, he [Rogers] threw the game pitch."

The "Belly Blast," as he likes to call it, was also Bellinger's third go-ahead home run in the eighth inning or later this season, the second most in MLB behind Salvador Perez (5).

"You have a little extra adrenaline because the game means a little more," Bellinger said of how he's been able to hit so many home runs in clutch situations this year. "I like the pressure situations. Sometimes there's more pressure on the pitcher, and they make more mistakes."

After the home run, the crowd gave Bellinger a standing ovation and started chating, "MVP! MVP! MVP!" until the rookie came out of the dugout for a curtain call. 

"I didn't hear the chants at first, Kiké [Hernandez] had to tell me to go out [for a curtain call]," said Bellinger of the MVP chants. "I definitely heard it after I came out. It's pretty cool."

One day after he blew his first save of the season, Kenley Jansen closed the door in the ninth for his 25^th save, extending the Dodgers record to 47 consecutive games won when leading at any point.

"They played the 'let's help the closer game' today," joked Jansen about having to warm up quickly to come in the game after Bellinger gave the Dodgers the lead and made it a save situation. "It was great. We're all having so much fun."

Los Angeles has won 34 of their last 40 games, the best 40-game stretch since the Brooklyn Superbas in 1899.

The game was also the 100^th of the season for the Boys in Blue, and they reached the century mark with a record of 69-31, the second best record in the divisional era since the Cincinnati Reds went 70-30 in 1970.

How's That For a Debut?

After 11 long years in  pro ball, including nine in the minor leagues, left-hander Edward Paredes earned the win in his MLB debut at the age of 30 when he pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

"It's been 11 long years to get to this point. When they first told me, I didn't believe it. I asked them 'are you sure?'" Paredes said through a translator of the moment he found out he would be entering the game in a high-pressure situation to make his MLB debut. "In all seriousness, when they first announced my name [on the PA system] and said I was making my Major League debut, I didn't hear anything after that. It just goes to show, you can do whatever you set your mind to."

He became the first Dodger pitcher to make his MLB debut after the age of 30 since Japanese import, Hiroki Kuroda did it in 2008.

"It's a great story and a long road for him," said Roberts. "To finally make his Major League debut in a Dodger uniform, everyone was thrilled."

World Series Rematch:

The Twins and Dodgers met in the 1965 World Series, which Los Angeles won in seven games.

Ryu Back:

Before the game, left-hander, Hyun-Jin Ryu was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list.

The big Korean southpaw did not factor in the decision, allowing two runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts.

Up Next:

Jose Berrios starts for the Twins on Tuesday night opposite Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10PM PST.