LOS ANGELES — Tommy Edman made a fantastic defensive play to rob extra bases, then rounded said bases after a three-run home run that helped the Dodgers to a 6-5 win over the Washington Nationals on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium.
Down two runs in the seventh inning, Alex Freeland walked with one out and Kiké Hernández singled with two out. That set the stage for Edman, who jumped on a high slider from former Dodgers draft pick Clayton Beeter for a three-run home run, turning the game around.
Edman in five games on the homestand has nine hits in 22 at-bats (.409), what a way to make a living.
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“He’s a heck of a ballplayer,” manager Dave Roberts said. “You can put him anywhere on the diamond. Makes plays defensively, takes good at-bats. He has the knack for the big hit. And he’s playing his tail off. Obviously we don’t have Shohei, and to be able to put Tommy in there and really still be productive, it’s great.”
With no Shohei Ohtani in the lineup for a third straight day, the Dodgers were also without two other planned starters with Dalton Rushing scratched with elbow soreness and Max Muncy sick. They still managed to score a pair off Washington’s best starter, Cade Cavalli in the opening frame. Freddie Freeman was hit by a pitch and Mookie Betts singled with one out. Teoscar Hernández continued his solid week or so with an RBI single, and catcher Hunter Feduccia added another.
Tyler Glasnow struck out eight but pitched through traffic most of his night, and allowed four runs.
Glasnow wasn’t the only one having a challenging night. Home plate umpire Rob Drake had four ball-strike calls overturned by ABS challenge in the first three and a half innings, all challenges by Washington. It took until James Wood struck out looking to end the fourth inning for the Nationals to lose a challenge.
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That strikeout of Wood left Dylan Crews at third base, and Glasnow also stranded runners on second and third in the second inning and another runner on second base in the third.
Glasnow nearly gave up another extra-base hit to open the fifth inning, but Edman rescued him with this catch to rob Daylen Lile. Glasnow’s “holy shit” reaction says it all.
Glasnow started the seventh inning trailing by a run, but was pulled after a leadoff double by Crews. Crews scored on a double by Lile off Alex Vesia to close the book on Glasnow.
Alex Call was clipped by a pitch with the bases loaded for an insurance run in the eighth. That extra offense was very much needed, as the Nationals threatened after Tanner Scott struck out his first two batters of the frame.
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With the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, Scott struck out Abrams to preserve the nail-biter.
Saturday particulars
Home run: Tommy Edman (6)
WP — Alex Vesia (2-1): 1 IP, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts
LP — Clayton Beeter (5-5): 2/3 IP, 2 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk
Sv — Tanner Scott (21): 1 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 3 strikeouts
Up next
The Dodgers finish things off with the Nationals with a rare super late start on Sunday (7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA). Justin Wrobleski, Bobby Miller, and friends will fill innings in series finale, with left-hander Andrew Alvarez on the mound for Washington. Wrobleski will get the ball first for the home team.