Max Langer
Game 23, 4/20/2025: Dodgers 1, Rangers 0
ARLINGTON, TX — After an eventful day in Dodgers-land yesterday, with Shohei Ohtani’s baby daughter being born, the return of Evan Phillips, the injury of Blake Treinen, and of course Kirby Yates allowing a walk-off two run homer to Adolis Garcia, the Dodgers probably could’ve used an uneventful, ho-hum day at the ballpark today. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, it didn’t play out that way.
Similar to Friday night’s contest between the last two World Champions, today appeared to be a pitcher’s duel from the outset. Tyler Glasnow was good; he struck out six batters and was able to wiggle out of the couple of little jams he found himself in. But Tyler Mahle was great. The Rangers’ righty went seven scoreless frames, punching out four, but allowing only two hits. Glasnow, on the other hand, was pulled after the first pitch of the fifth inning. His fastball velocity was considerably down, and he looked like he was having trouble pushing off of the mound.
In the eighth inning, the Dodgers classified Glasnow’s injury as, “lower leg cramps” while Glasnow himself after the game said that he feels okay now, and is hopeful he’ll be able to make is next start. Nonetheless, it’s a concerning sign for Glasnow, who’s dealt with a litany of injuries over the course of his career and has struggled to stay consistently healthy. With Blake Snell, Clayton Kershaw, and Shohei Ohtani already on the IL for Los Angeles, the Dodgers can’t really afford too many more blows to their starting rotation.
The game remained scoreless into the late innings, however. After Glasnow’s injury, Luis Garcia, Anthony Banda, and Ben Casparius got the game into the eighth inning still knotted at 0-0. In the top of the eighth, however, the Dodgers finally broke through, with small ball of all ways to score. Will Smith lined a single into left off of Chris Martin on the first pitch of the inning, before Shohei Ohtani walked. Mookie Betts advanced Smith to third after a sac fly to right, and Freddie Freeman’s fly ball to left scored Smith to give Los Angeles the lead.
Jack Dreyer and Evan Phillips combined for a scoreless eighth, before Tanner Scott emerged out of the ‘pen for the ninth, with LA still clinging to a one-run lead. Wyatt Langford reached first on an infield hit to begin the frame, but Scott buckled down. He got Kevin Pillar to pop out and Josh Jung to fly out. With two gone, Scott was facing his former Miami Marlins teammate Jake Burger when Langford sprinted for second. Will Smith threw a cannon down to Miguel Rojas. Langford beat the threw, but after a review, it was deemed his foot came off the base, and the Rojas’ glove was on his leg while Langford’s foot was still in mid-air. For the second time in three nights, the Dodgers found themselves victorious after a quick call to New York.
It’s the second straight series win for Los Angeles, who’ve won five of their last six after three consecutive series losses. For the first time in a couple of weeks, they’re tied for the best record in baseball with the Padres, who play Houston later tonight on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. Up next: an off-day Monday, before a quick two-game stint at the friendly confines of Wrigley Field Tuesday and Wednesday. It’ll be the third time already this season the Dodgers have seen the Cubs, and it’ll also be the last.
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