The Los Angeles Dodgers delivered another dramatic win Friday night, edging out the Kansas City Royals 5–4 in a back-and-forth contest at Kauffman Stadium that showcased timely hitting, clutch pitching, and pure grit.
From the first pitch, Shohei Ohtani set the tone, blasting a leadoff home run to right-center and igniting a Dodgers offense that never stopped pressing. Ohtani wasn’t done—he later tied the game in the fourth with a scorching RBI triple, finishing with two RBIs and continuing to prove why he’s the most electrifying player in baseball.
Max Muncy followed with a two-run homer that put the Dodgers ahead, and Mookie Betts delivered the decisive blow with a clutch RBI single in the fifth inning that broke a 4–4 deadlock.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
Dodgers starter Dustin May, making just his fifth appearance since returning from injury, struggled with command and was pulled after 4.0 innings. He gave up four runs (three earned), while a pair of defensive miscues behind him kept the Royals in striking distance.
Still, the Dodgers bullpen answered the call.
Michael Grove, Ryan Brasier, and Alex Vesia stitched together scoreless frames to maintain the lead before Tanner Scott slammed the door in the ninth—though not without a scare. With two outs and the bases loaded, Scott induced a dramatic flyout to right to lock down his 18th save of the season.
“That’s a win we had to grind out,” said manager Dave Roberts. “Everyone stepped up when it mattered.”
The victory improves the Dodgers to 52–31, keeps their road trip undefeated, and extends their winning streak to five games. It also pushes them further ahead in the NL West, where they now lead by 3.5 games.
The Dodgers and Royals will continue their three-game set Saturday, with James Paxton scheduled to start for L.A.