BALTIMORE – After five days of spiraling losses, mounting questions, and perhaps the most demoralizing ending to a game a baseball team can endure, the Dodgers finally put a stop to the bleeding. And they did it the only way a championship-caliber team can — with stars stepping up, veterans setting the tone, and the bullpen holding firm.
Behind Shohei Ohtani’s fireworks, Clayton Kershaw’s steadiness, and a lockdown effort from the bullpen, the Dodgers held on for a 5-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday afternoon. It wasn’t just a win — it was a message: The Dodgers may have stumbled, but they’re far from broken.
If there were any doubts about who this team turns to when it needs a lifeline, Ohtani answered in thunderous fashion.
On just the second pitch of the game, Ohtani launched his 12th leadoff home run of the season — a 94 mph sinker from fellow countryman Tomoyuki Sugano — into the right-field seats. That shot not only gave the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead, but also tied Mookie Betts (2023) for the most leadoff homers in a single season in Dodgers history.
Ohtani wasn’t done. In the third inning, he crushed another — a 94 mph fastball — for his 48th home run of the season and his fourth multi-homer game of 2025. His final line: 2-for-2, 2 HR, three walks, three runs scored. It’s no wonder he’s the heavy favorite for the NL MVP.
One batter after Ohtani’s second blast, Mookie Betts followed with a homer of his own — his 16th of the season. Betts, now hitting .310 over his last eight games, seems to be heating up at just the right time. His RBI single in the ninth provided some late insurance.
The fourth run came via hustle and heads-up base running. Miguel Rojas scored in the fourth after catcher Alex Jackson’s pickoff attempt at second base ended up a costly error, making it 4-0.
Then came Kershaw, the future Hall of Famer whose return to the rotation is still one of the best stories of the year. Kershaw wasn’t dominant in the traditional sense, but he was commanding — retiring 9 of the first 10 batters he faced and finishing with 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 8 K, 1 BB.
The 37-year-old now has wins in 29 different Major League stadiums, with Camden Yards being the latest addition.
The Dodgers’ bullpen — an area of concern during the recent slide — came up big. Justin Wrobleski was electric, striking out five over two innings, including a dominant eighth where he struck out the side. Jack Dreyer finished things off with a scoreless ninth, giving the Dodgers their first win in six games.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing. Kershaw left with a runner on second in the sixth, and Edgardo Henriquez gave up an RBI double to Alex Jackson to make it 4-2. But from there, the bullpen held the line.
Offensively, the Dodgers showed balance — 10 hits from six different players, including two-hit efforts from Ohtani, Betts, and Michael Conforto. While Freddie Freeman went 0-for-5, the team found ways to generate runs beyond the long ball.
Reinforcements are on the way
William Liang-Imagn Images
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) hits a two run home run during the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium.
Max Muncy and Alex Vesia are expected to be activated on Monday, when the Dodgers return to Chavez Ravine to face the Rockies. Tommy Edman is not far behind. Most importantly, Tyler Glasnow is expected to take the mound during the Rockies series after being scratched from Friday’s start.
One win doesn’t erase a week of misery. But this one felt bigger than just a Sunday matinee in September. The Dodgers didn’t just avoid a sweep — they reminded everyone, including themselves, of who they are.
They are led by the game’s best player in Ohtani. They’re steadied by one of the best pitchers of his generation in Kershaw. And they’re still very much in control of their own destiny.
Now, with the losing streak snapped and key pieces returning, the Dodgers can finally look forward — not back.