Shohei Ohtani hits 49th homer, powers Dodgers past Giants

SAN FRANCISCO – On a night that started with uncertainty and frustration, the Dodgers proved why they remain one of the most dangerous teams in baseball — because when tested, they punch back.

Clayton Kershaw didn’t have it. The defense behind him didn’t help. A shaky first inning saw the Giants send nine men to the plate and jump out to a 4-1 lead, while LA's offense stranded the bases loaded with a deflating double play. Through the first two innings, it felt like one of those nights.

But these Dodgers are built differently.

What followed was an emphatic reminder of why the Dodgers are a perennial threat, in their ability to weather a storm and then bury an opponent under an avalanche of offense. Los Angeles exploded for six runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth en route to a 13-7 win over the Giants on Saturday night at Oracle Park.

This game had everything: frustration, fireworks, and ultimately, fulfillment.

Kershaw didn’t look sharp. He needed 67 pitches to get through just three innings, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks. It marked his shortest outing since a rain-shortened two-inning appearance in New York back in May.

He was laboring, and manager Dave Roberts made the right call by pulling the plug early. The move paid off.

Shohei Ohtani — the MVP frontrunner — tried to jumpstart the offense with a towering solo shot in the third inning, his 49th of the season. He let the Giants know about it, too, with a confident bat flip. The Dodgers weren’t done.

Teoscar Hernández roped a two-out RBI double in the fourth to make it 4-3, and from there, the Dodgers' lineup turned relentless.

If the first four innings were frustrating, the fifth was therapeutic.

With the bases loaded and no outs, Hernández delivered again with a two-run double, his third hit of the night. Conforto’s sac fly added another, and Ben Rortvedt — after earlier grounding into a deflating double play — came through with a two-run double of his own.

And just when you thought the rally was over, the Giants intentionally walked Ohtani to face Mookie Betts. Big mistake. Betts took the disrespect personally, adding an RBI single to make it 9-4 before the inning finally ended.

Nine batters, six runs, statement made.

To their credit, the Giants didn’t fold. Jerar Encarnacion, Luis Matos, and Patrick Bailey fueled a three-run fifth to claw back within 9-7. But once Roberts turned to Justin Wrobleski, the bleeding stopped. The Dodgers’ bullpen did its job the rest of the way.

In a scary moment, Max Muncy was hit in the head by a pitch in the sixth and later exited the game — a tough blow after already leaving Friday’s game with a forearm issue. 

But the Dodgers didn’t flinch.

Hernández scored on a wild pitch to make it 10-7, and Miguel Rojas crushed a two-run double to push the lead to five. Rojas, often an unsung contributor, finished with three RBIs in one of his best games of the season.

The Dodgers' Big Three — Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman — combined to go 8-for-16 with six runs scored and four RBIs. Ohtani’s three-hit night came with a side of fireworks. Betts had two RBI singles. Freeman’s ninth-inning double drove in Ohtani and moved him within one of Manny Ramirez for 34th all-time in doubles.

It's the kind of night LA fans dream about — the stars shining and the supporting cast stepping up.

After Friday’s walk-off grand slam, Tanner Scott returned in the ninth to earn some redemption. He needed just 13 pitches to shut the door, securing a win that meant more than just another tally in the standings. It was about bouncing back, and Scott delivered.

It’s easy to overreact to one game in a 162-game season — but some nights reveal more than others. Saturday night in San Francisco, the Dodgers didn’t just win. They responded.

They were battle-tested early. Kershaw didn’t have his stuff. They blew an early opportunity with the bases loaded. They got punched in the mouth.

And then? They answered with 13 runs on 17 hits. Every part of the lineup contributed, and the bullpen stabilized after early hiccups. The message to the league is clear: When the Dodgers are down, don’t count them out — they’re just getting started.

All eyes turn to Sunday’s finale. Tyler Glasnow (2-3, 3.21 ERA) takes the mound for LA against the Giants’ lefty Robbie Ray (11-6, 3.32 ERA). After back-to-back thrillers, expect another high-stakes showdown with plenty on the line.