The Freeway Series lived up to its billing as the Los Angeles Dodgers bested the Los Angeles Angels 6-2 in a thrilling 10-inning contest.
The game marked Shohei Ohtani’s return to Angel Stadium, where he spent the first six years of his MLB career.
Dodgers
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI | AVG |
| S. Ohtani DH | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .292 |
| M. Betts RF | 5 | 1 | 2 | 4 | .302 |
| F. Freeman 1B | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .289 |
| T. Hernandez LF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .267 |
| W. Smith C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .245 |
| T. Edman CF-SS | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .264 |
| M. Muncy 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .229 |
| M. Rojas SS | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .288 |
| K. Kiermaier PR-CF | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .203 |
| C. Taylor 2B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .177 |
| G. Lux PH-2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .253 |
Notable Dodgers stats:
- 3B: S. Ohtani (7)
- HR: M. Betts (15)
- RBI: S. Ohtani (99), M. Betts 4 (62), M. Rojas (32)
- 2-Out RBI: M. Betts 3
- SB: M. Betts (14)
Angels
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI | AVG |
| T. Ward LF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .240 |
| Z. Neto SS | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .252 |
| N. Schanuel 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .246 |
| A. Rendon 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .224 |
| M. Moniak CF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .230 |
| L. O’Hoppe C | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .242 |
| B. Drury 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .161 |
| J. Adell RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .209 |
| N. Kavadas DH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .079 |
Notable Angels stats:
- HR: T. Ward (20), L. O’Hoppe (18)
- RBI: T. Ward (62), L. O’Hoppe (51)
- 2-Out RBI: T. Ward
- SB: Z. Neto (26)
Key Moments
- Ohtani’s Homecoming: The two-way star received a warm welcome from fans and contributed an RBI triple.
- Late-Game Heroics: Mookie Betts sealed the win with a three-run homer in the 10th inning.
- Pitching Duel: Both starting pitchers perform well, keeping the game tight.
Players Of The Game
Ohtani’s Impact
Ohtani’s return to Anaheim was a focal point of the game. He went 1-for-4 at the plate, with his lone hit being a game-tying RBI triple in the third inning.
The Japanese superstar expressed his appreciation for the fans, saying:
“The biggest part of all this is being able to play at this stadium in front of the Anaheim fans. That was the part that was special for me.”
Betts Delivers the Knockout Blow
The game remained tied into extra innings, where strategy came into play. With Ohtani on base in the 10th, the Angels intentionally walked him to face Mookie Betts.
This decision backfired as Betts launched a three-run homer, effectively sealing the game for the Dodgers.
Betts, who drove in four runs total, commented on the situation:
“With Shohei doing what Shohei always does, I understand their perspective. So I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit.”
Pitching Highlights
Both teams saw strong performances from their starting pitchers:
- Dodgers: Walker Buehler went five innings, allowing five hits and two walks.
- Angels: Reid Detmers struck out 10 batters over six innings, giving up just three hits.
Notable Moments
- Logan O’Hoppe and Taylor Ward homered for the Angels.
- Angels reliever Ben Joyce threw a 105.5-mph fastball, the third-fastest pitch in MLB’s pitch-tracking era.
- The Dodgers continue to lead the league, notching their 12th win in 15 games.
Looking Ahead
The series finale promises more excitement as the Angels’ Griffin Canning is set to face the Dodgers’ Bobby Miller on the mound.
This game showcased what baseball offers – star power, strategic decisions, and clutch performances.
As the season progresses, both Los Angeles teams will look to build on their strengths and make a push for the playoffs.
