Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman celebrates after hitting a walk-off single during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Ohtani homers in 5th straight game, Freeman drives in 2 runs in the 9th as Dodgers beat Twins 4-3

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani matched a franchise record with a homer in the fifth straight game and Freddie Freeman drove in two runs with a two-out single in the ninth inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to beat the Minnesota Twins 4-3 on Wednesday.

Freeman hit a sinking liner to left field that eluded a diving Harrison Bader and scored Mookie Betts and Ohtani, setting off a wild celebration.

Ohtani hit a solo homer to center in the first, his National League-leading 37th of the season. It marked the seventh time in Dodgers history that a player has homered in five consecutive games. Ohtani joins Max Muncy, Joc Pederson, Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp, Shawn Green and Roy Campanella in that club.

The Twins scored two runs in the eighth off the Dodgers bullpen, one day after scoring seven runs off Los Angeles’ pen in a 10-7 victory.

This time, the Dodgers got the better of the Twins bullpen.

Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow was dominant, allowing three hits and one run with 12 strikeouts in seven innings. The right-hander was making his third start since returning from a shoulder injury.

Minnesota’s Chris Paddack had a strong outing, allowing four hits and one run in six innings with eight strikeouts.

Royce Lewis, an native of Orange County, California, tied the game at 1 with a solo home run off Glasnow in the third inning. He added a double in the fifth and a walk in the two-run eighth, finishing 2 for 2.

Tommy Edman lined a run-scoring, bases-loaded single to right field in the seventh to score Freeman, giving the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.

Dodgers reliever Kirby Yates opened the eighth by walking the first three batters he faced. Alex Vesia entered and got Willi Castro to hit into a double play, scoring one run, and pinch-hitter Bader knocked in another run with an infield single.

Key moment

Minnesota’s Griffin Jax got the first two outs in the ninth before Betts singled and Ohtani was walked intentionally. Jax walked Esteury Ruiz, loading the bases for Freeman.

Key stat

Glasnow struck out 12 batters for the first time since June 9, 2024, when he fanned 12 against the Yankees.

Up next

Twins RHP Zebby Matthews (1-2, 6.26 ERA) makes his sixth start against when Minnesota hosts Washington on Friday.

Dodgers RHP Emmet Sheehan (101, 4.41 ERA) will face the Red Sox in Boston on Friday.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, right, celebrates with Teoscar Hernández, left, and Clayton Kershaw after hitting a walk-off single during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Brock Stewart celebrates after the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, right, celebrates with Teoscar Hernández, left, and Clayton Kershaw after hitting a walk-off single during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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