Shohei Ohtani extended his home run streak to five games, and Freddie Freeman delivered a two-run, walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers earned a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. The win allowed Los Angeles to avoid a series loss and cap a tightly contested three-game set with a dramatic finish.
Entering the game, the Dodgers were listed as -170 favorites on the money line, while the Twins were underdogs at +145. The over/under was set at 8.5 total runs. The contest saw late scoring on both sides but stayed under the projected total until the final play.
Ohtani wasted no time continuing his hot streak, hitting his National League-leading 37th home run of the season in the first inning. The solo shot to center field marked the fifth consecutive game in which he has gone deep, tying a franchise record shared by Max Muncy, Joc Pederson, Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp, Shawn Green, and Hall of Famer Roy Campanella. Ohtani also walked intentionally in the ninth inning, setting the stage for Freeman’s game-winning hit.
Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow delivered one of his best outings of the season, striking out 12 batters while allowing just one run and three hits across seven innings. It was the right-hander’s third start since returning from a shoulder injury and his first 12-strikeout performance since June 2024.
Chris Paddack provided a solid performance for the Twins, holding the Dodgers to one run on four hits over six innings while striking out eight. He kept the game close until the Dodgers took a brief lead in the seventh inning when Tommy Edman singled to right field with the bases loaded, scoring Freeman and giving Los Angeles a 2-1 advantage.
Minnesota responded in the top of the eighth against the Dodgers’ bullpen. Kirby Yates issued three consecutive walks to open the frame before being replaced by Alex Vesia. The left-hander induced a double-play grounder from Willi Castro that scored the tying run. Harrison Bader, entering as a pinch-hitter, drove in another run with an infield single to give the Twins a 3-2 lead.
The Dodgers mounted a final rally in the ninth. Griffin Jax retired the first two batters before Mookie Betts singled, and Ohtani was walked intentionally. Esteury Ruiz followed with a walk to load the bases. With two outs, Freeman lined a sinking single to left field that eluded a diving Bader, allowing Betts and Ohtani to score. The hit ended the game and triggered a celebration on the field.
Royce Lewis led the Twins offensively with a solo home run and a double. The Orange County native finished 2-for-2 with a walk and accounted for one of Minnesota’s three runs.
Looking ahead, the Twins will return home Friday to begin a series against the Washington Nationals. Right-hander Zebby Matthews (1-2, 6.26 ERA) is scheduled to start for Minnesota. The Dodgers will travel to Boston, where right-hander Emmet Sheehan (10-1, 4.41 ERA) is expected to face the Red Sox on Friday.