The Dodgers used up all their firepower in the first inning of Saturday’s contest against the Boston Red Sox, getting outmatched by Garrett Crochet as Boston handed the Dodgers a 4-2 defeat.
Whether he’s leading off the game or batting second in the lineup, Shohei Ohtani knows how to start the game off with a bang, as he connected for his 38th home run of the season to give the Dodgers an immediate 1-0 lead. After Crochet got a strikeout of Will Smith, Teoscar Hernández dunked one over the Green Monster
and onto Lansdowne St.— his second home run in as many games— to give the Dodgers a two run lead.
Start it off, Shohei! pic.twitter.com/QP0VHawJNa
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 26, 2025
TEOSCAR OVER THE GREEN MONSTER. pic.twitter.com/kQxM8Q30Qa
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 26, 2025
The Dodgers kept the line moving with singles from Freddie Freeman and Andy Pages, but Freeman tried to take advantage of a bobble in left field from Jarren Duran and was gunned down at third base. Tommy Edman stunted the rally with a lineout to Ceddane Rafaela, and the Dodgers scoring for the day would be complete.
The Red Sox put two straight baserunners on against Clayton Kershaw to kick off the bottom of the second inning before Duran cracked a two-run game tying triple over the head of Pages to tie the game. A sacrifice fly from Abraham Toro plated Duran and gave the Red Sox a one run lead.
Kershaw settled in nicely after the three-run second inning, setting down eight hitters in a row while recording a pair of strikeouts. That was until Alex Bregman connected for his second single against him, with rookie Roman Anthony lining an RBI double off the Green Monster, plating Bregman, extending Boston’s lead to two and knocking Kershaw out of the game. For a second straight start, Kershaw failed to get out of the fifth inning.
While Kershaw cratered in the middle innings, Crochet continued to dominate Dodgers hitting. The Dodgers did get four more hits and a pair of walks after the first inning, but every runner was left stranded, as Crochet finished four of his next five innings of work with an inning ending strikeout. Crochet racked up double digit strikeouts for the fifth time this season, and the Red Sox ace’s 175 strikeouts continue to lead all of baseball.
The Dodgers were baffled against both Justin Wilson and Garrett Whitlock, before Aroldis Chapman came in for a save opportunity in the ninth inning. Esteury Ruiz worked a six pitch walk with two outs to bring the tying run up, as Mookie Betts came into pinch hit for Hyeseong Kim against his former team. Betts worked the count full, but took a fastball right down the middle to send the Dodgers to a 3-5 record since the break.
Game particulars
- Home runs— Shohei Ohtani (38), Teoscar Hernández (16)
- WP— Garrett Crochet (12-4): 6 IP, 8 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts
- LP— Clayton Kershaw (4-2): 4 2⁄3 + IP, 6 hits, 4 earned runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
- SV— Aroldis Chapman (18): 1 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Up next
The Dodgers will look to take their second consecutive series as they conclude their three game series against the Red Sox on Sunday (10:35 a.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Dustin May gets the start for the Dodgers, while Walker Buehler makes his first career start against his old team.
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