The Houston Astros secured a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, completing a three-game sweep for the first time in Los Angeles since May 2008. Home runs by Christian Walker, Yainer Diaz, and Jose Altuve helped pace Houston’s offense, while Ryan Gusto delivered six effective innings on the mound.
Coming into the matchup, the Dodgers were listed as slight favorites with betting odds ranging around -125 on the moneyline, while the Astros were priced near +105 as underdogs. However, Houston’s form since the beginning of June has defied expectations. The win improves the Astros to 24-8 since June 1, the best record in Major League Baseball over that span.
The game’s turning point came in the sixth inning. With the score tied 1-1 and the bases loaded, Astros infielder Zack Short worked an eight-pitch at-bat against Dodgers reliever Will Klein, ultimately drawing a two-out walk that brought in the go-ahead run. That plate appearance gave Houston a 2-1 lead and shifted momentum in their favor.
In the eighth, the Astros expanded the lead when Walker and Diaz opened the inning with back-to-back solo home runs off Dodgers closer Tanner Scott. Altuve added a solo homer in the ninth inning off Anthony Banda, sealing the victory and capping a day that showcased Houston’s depth in the lineup.
Gusto improved to 6-3 with the win, allowing four hits and one run over six innings while recording one strikeout and one walk. Although not overpowering, Gusto effectively limited damage and neutralized Los Angeles’s most potent hitters: Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Andy Pages combined to just 2-for-12 against him. The bullpen maintained the lead with clean innings from Bennett Sousa, Bryan King, and Bryan Abreu.
Los Angeles took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning. Michael Conforto walked to begin the frame and advanced to third on Hyeseong Kim’s single and Miguel Rojas’ double-play grounder. Dalton Rushing followed with an RBI double to drive in Conforto, the Dodgers’ only run of the game.
Houston responded in the third inning. Short singled and moved to third on Isaac Paredes’ double. Altuve drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly, which Dodgers right fielder Esteury Ruiz caught while leaping into the foul-territory screen.
Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan, making his second appearance since returning from Tommy John surgery, gave up one run over five innings, striking out four and walking one. Despite a solid performance, the Dodgers’ bullpen faltered in the later innings.
A key defensive play came in the bottom of the eighth when Astros center fielder Taylor Trammell made a sliding catch on a 104-mph line drive off the bat of Freeman, preventing the Dodgers from cutting into Houston’s 4-1 lead.
The Dodgers will travel to Milwaukee on Monday to begin a series with the Brewers. Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-6, 2.51 ERA) is scheduled to start against Freddy Peralta (9-4, 2.91 ERA). The Astros return home to host the Cleveland Guardians, sending left-hander Colton Gordon (3-1, 4.37 ERA) to the mound opposite right-hander Tanner Bibee (4-9, 4.20 ERA).