The Los Angeles Dodgers used a combination of power hitting and timely relief to overcome an early deficit and defeat the Oakland Athletics 9-3 on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. Four home runs and a go-ahead pinch-hit double by Miguel Rojas fueled the comeback, allowing the Dodgers to even the three-game series heading into the finale.
Los Angeles entered the contest as a considerable favorite, with betting odds listing them at approximately -220 on the moneyline, while Oakland was the underdog at +180. The run total was set around 8.5, a line comfortably surpassed as the Dodgers rallied with a six-run output over the final four innings.
Shohei Ohtani wasted no time putting the Dodgers ahead, hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. His 403-foot blast to the right was followed by a 417-foot home run from Andy Pages on the first pitch of the second inning, giving Los Angeles an early 2-0 advantage.
The Athletics responded in the third inning when Tyler Soderstrom connected for a two-run home run off Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, tying the game. One inning later, Miguel Andujar doubled to left field to drive in another run, giving Oakland a brief 3-2 lead. Yamamoto settled in after the early trouble and completed six innings, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out six. The outing earned him his fifth win of the season, improving his record to 5-3.
Los Angeles tied the game in the fifth inning when Hyeseong Kim led off with a solo home run, one of three homers surrendered by Athletics starter Gunnar Hoglund. Making his third major league start, Hoglund allowed four runs on seven hits over five and one-third innings and struck out five batters.
In the sixth, the Dodgers regained the lead when Pages drew a leadoff walk and advanced on Michael Conforto’s single. Though Pages was thrown out at third attempting to stretch the play, Rojas came off the bench to deliver a pinch-hit double to center field off reliever Hogan Harris, putting the Dodgers ahead 4-3.
Los Angeles put the game out of reach in the eighth inning. After Mookie Betts doubled to center field, Max Muncy added the most significant blow of the night with a three-run home run, extending the Dodgers’ lead to six runs. It was part of a five-run frame that turned a close contest into a comfortable victory.
The offensive burst came one night after the Dodgers suffered an 11-1 loss in which they surrendered five home runs. This time, the Dodgers’ bats proved decisive, hitting four home runs and tallying 12 total hits.
On Thursday, the Athletics will send right-hander Osvaldo Bido to the mound in the series finale. Bido enters the matchup with a 2-3 record and a 4.75 earned run average. The Dodgers have not named a traditional starter. They are expected to use a bullpen game approach to seek the series win and maintain their position atop the National League West standings.
