Tommy Edman and Teoscar Hernández lead Dodgers past Nationals 6-5 in Shohei Ohtani's absence
Los Angeles Dodgers' Tommy Edman heads to first for a three-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. Credit: AP/Mark J. Terrill
LOS ANGELES — Tommy Edman and Teoscar Hernández provided key hits in Shohei Ohtani's absence as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for a 6-5 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday night.
Edman put the Dodgers ahead with a three-run homer in the seventh inning out of Ohtani’s regular leadoff spot, and Hernández had an RBI single in the first while replacing the two-way superstar at designated hitter.
Ohtani remains uncertain to play in Sunday’s series finale, with a move to the injured list possible.
Dylan Crews and Daylen Lile each had an RBI double for the Nationals, and Cade Cavalli pitched six strong innings following a rocky start. Cavalli allowed two runs and four hits with eight strikeouts, retiring 15 of the last 16 batters he faced.
Keibert Ruiz had a run-scoring single against his former team but Washington lost its third consecutive game.
Los Angeles jumped on Cavalli early. Freddie Freeman was hit by a pitch with one out in the first and Mookie Betts singled. Hernández singled with two outs for a 1-0 lead, and Hunter Feduccia followed with an RBI single for a two-run advantage.
The Nationals cut the deficit in half in the second when CJ Abrams scored on a sacrifice fly from José Tena.
Los Angeles Dodgers' Tommy Edman, left, has seeds thrown at him by Teoscar Hernández after hitting a three-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. Credit: AP/Mark J. Terrill
Washington went up 3-2 in the fourth on an RBI single by Ruiz and a run-scoring double from Crews. Ruiz was playing for the first time since Wednesday when he was hit in his catcher’s mask by a foul ball.
Lile’s run-scoring double in the seventh against Alex Vesia (2-1) gave Washington a 4-2 lead.
The Dodgers rallied against right-hander Clayton Beeter (5-5) by putting two aboard with two outs in the bottom half. Edman drove a 2-1 slider into the right-field seats for his sixth homer of the season.
Los Angeles added a run in the eighth when Alex Call was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. Credit: AP/Mark J. Terrill
Tanner Scott gave up an RBI single to Lile in the ninth before finishing off his 21st save.
Up next
Nationals LHP Andrew Alvarez (2-6, 3.47 ERA) faces Dodgers LHP Justin Wrobleski (11-5, 3.65) on Sunday night.
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