Betts Carries Dodgers Past Baltimore in a Slugfest

The Dodgers won 6-5 over the Orioles on Saturday, doing it without Shohei Ohtani — who was away from the team on paternity leave — and a shorthanded roster. Mookie Betts went 3-for-5 with a home run, an RBI, and two runs scored, and that was enough to hold off a Baltimore lineup that hit three home runs of its own.

The story of the night was how much firepower both sides brought despite this looking, on paper, like a pitching-friendly matchup. Roki Sasaki went 5.2 innings for Los Angeles, allowing 3 earned runs on 4 hits with 6 strikeouts and just 1 walk — a solid line that still left the Dodgers needing their bullpen to close it out. Blake Treinen did exactly that, throwing a clean inning with 2 strikeouts and nothing on the board. On the Baltimore side, Trey Gibson was the weak link: 5.0 innings, 7 hits, 3 earned runs, and 4 walks is a line that invites trouble, and the Dodgers took full advantage.

Baltimore's offense, to its credit, refused to go quietly. Gunnar Henderson went 1-for-4 but made it count — a home run with 2 RBI. Pete Alonso added another solo shot, going 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Jeremiah Jackson chipped in 1-for-3 with 2 RBI. That's three home runs and five runs from a lineup that appears capable of beating anyone on a given night. The problem is that Gibson's inability to limit traffic gave Los Angeles too much of a cushion to overcome. Tyler Wells came out of the Baltimore bullpen and was sharp — 1.2 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 3 strikeouts — but the damage was already done.

For the Dodgers, this looks like a win built on depth and resilience. Tommy Edman was quietly excellent, going 3-for-5 to match Betts's hit total. Max Muncy went 1-for-3 with 2 RBI, providing the kind of supporting production that makes Betts's big nights even more dangerous. With Will Smith still sidelined by a neck injury and Ohtani absent, the Dodgers leaned on their lineup depth and got exactly what they needed. The final score was 6-5, and it appears the Dodgers are a team that can absorb significant absences and still find a way to win — which, for a club that recently reclaimed the top spot in the MLB Power Rankings, should concern everyone else in the league.