Adolis García delivered a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Texas Rangers defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 on Saturday night at Globe Life Field. The dramatic finish denied rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki his first career Major League Baseball win after a strong outing.
The Dodgers entered the game as modest favorites, with most sportsbooks listing them at approximately -130 on the moneyline. The Rangers were posted as slight underdogs at around +110. The projected run total hovered around 8.5, which was reached after García’s ninth-inning heroics.
Facing a 3-2 deficit in the final frame, Texas began the rally against Dodgers reliever Kirby Yates, who had not yet recorded a save with Los Angeles and was looking to close out the game. Josh Smith nearly tied the game with a long fly ball that hooked just foul down the right-field line. He followed by slapping a double into left field. García then launched a 394-foot home run into the left-field seats, securing the victory for Texas and improving their record at home.
The result was a frustrating end for the Dodgers and particularly for Sasaki, who was in line for his first win in his fifth big league appearance. The 23-year-old Japanese rookie pitched six innings, allowing two runs on just two hits while striking out four and walking three. The lone damage against him came on a two-run home run by Kyle Higashioka in the third inning.
The Dodgers responded quickly in the fourth inning. Freddie Freeman hit a game-tying two-run homer to right field, and Max Muncy added a ground-rule double later in the inning to give Los Angeles a 3-2 lead, which they held until the ninth. Freeman’s home run was his sixth of the season and added to his strong recent performance at the plate.
Despite Sasaki’s exit, the Dodgers’ bullpen maintained the lead through the seventh and eighth innings. Texas reliever Jacob Webb pitched two scoreless innings in relief and was credited with the win, improving to 2-0 on the season.
The Dodgers played without Shohei Ohtani, who was placed on the paternity list after announcing the birth of his first child. The news broke during the game and was confirmed by manager Dave Roberts in an in-game interview. Ohtani had missed both series games, and his absence was felt in a tight contest.
The game also featured a highlight-reel play from Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages, who robbed Corey Seager of a potential solo home run with a leaping catch at the wall in the first inning.
Yates, who recorded 33 saves for the Rangers last season, suffered his first blown save of 2025 and fell to 1-1 with the loss.
The series concludes Sunday with Los Angeles scheduled to start right-hander Tyler Glasnow, who enters the matchup with a 1-0 record and a 4.85 ERA. Texas will send Tyler Mahle to the mound. Mahle brings a 3-0 record and a 0.92 ERA, leading the American League in opponent batting average and ranking third in ERA.
