Far from their best Dodgers edge Royals 5–4 to claim MLB wins lead
The Dodgers struggled at times but eked out a 5–4 victory over the Royals powered by Shohei Ohtani’s homer and RBI triple—securing a fifth straight win and moving into the MLB wins lead .
Ohtani Does It All
Shohei Ohtani continued his MVP-caliber season by carrying the Dodgers offense once again . He kicked off the game with a thunderous leadoff home run—his 29th of the season—off Royals rookie starter Noah Cameron . Ohtani wasn’t done. In the fifth inning with the Dodgers trailing he smoked an RBI triple to right-center to tie the game at 4–4 . His timely production was critical in swinging the momentum Los Angeles’ way .
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Dodgers Rally After Early Deficit
Kansas City took control in the middle innings thanks to a two-run home run from Bobby Witt Jr. briefly giving the Royals a 4–3 lead . But the Dodgers responded quickly . Following Ohtani’s triple Mookie Betts delivered a sharp single to right field scoring the go-ahead run. That 5–4 margin proved enough as the Dodgers held off the Royals for the rest of the contest .
Pitching and Bullpen Performances
Dodgers starter Dustin May had an uneven outing surrendering four runs on six hits across four innings . He issued three walks and struck out three batters . Despite the shaky start the bullpen held strong . Reliever Lou Trivino pitched 1⅔ innings of scoreless relief and was credited with the win improving to 3–0 on the year .
Closer Tanner Scott came in to lock down the ninth inning . After allowing a base runner he induced a 4–6–3 double play off the bat of Royals rookie Jac Caglianone to end the game . It was Scott’s 18th save of the season cementing his role as one of the league’s steadiest closers .
Royals Keep Fighting
The Royals showed flashes of fight led by Bobby Witt Jr. and Kyle Isbel who both had extra-base hits . Witt’s home run gave the home team a brief lead and Isbel added a spark from the bottom of the lineup . Despite those efforts Kansas City’s woes at Kauffman Stadium continued—they suffered their 11th consecutive home loss matching a franchise record .
Ramifications for Both Clubs
Dodgers Maintain Winning Trend
This marked the fifth straight win for Los Angeles and with it the Dodgers vaulted into the top spot in MLB for total wins . Though the performance was not dominant the victory highlighted their resilience and the depth of their bullpen . The team is showing signs of finding consistency as the summer schedule intensifies .
Royals Home Woes Continue
For Kansas City the loss was their sixth in a row overall and a continuation of an alarming downward trend at home . The Royals have now gone 0–11 in their last 11 home games a stat that puts pressure on both players and management . A reassessment of strategies and lineups may be imminent if the team hopes to remain competitive in the AL Central .
Standout Performers
Shohei Ohtani Leadoff home run 29th of season and a game-tying RBI triple .
- Mookie Betts Drove in the go-ahead run with a fifth-inning single .
- Lou Trivino 1⅔ innings of scoreless relief to earn the win .
- Tanner Scott Notched his 18th save with a game-ending double play .
Bobby Witt Jr. and Kyle Isbel Provided much-needed offensive spark for the Royals though it wasn’t enough .
What’s Next
The Dodgers aim to extend their winning streak as they head into a new series relying on the surging Ohtani and bullpen depth to carry momentum forward . For Kansas City finding answers at home is critical . Breaking their losing streak and improving performance at Kauffman Stadium will be essential for climbing back into postseason contention .