Dalton Rushing gets MLB firsts, as bats explode for 18 hits & set season-high in runs – Dodgers Digest

The streak of alternating wins and losses has finally been broken, and the Dodgers did it emphatically tonight, as they jumped out to a massive lead early and never looked back. It was a memorable MLB debut for Dalton Rushing, as they clubbed the Athletics, 19-2.

======

The pen game for the Dodgers was started by Matt Sauer, who has proven effective when they’ve needed him to eat innings of late. Today didn’t start well, though not necessarily entirely his fault.

In the 1st, Sauer began by issuing a “walk” to the lead-off hitter and then issued another walk on a check swing that Dave Roberts disagreed with.

Of course it was this run that scored.

[image or embed]

— Chad Moriyama (@chadmoriyama.bsky.social) May 15, 2025 at 4:19 PM

While he got the next two batters, he then gave up a double to Shea Langeliers that put the A’s up 1-0.

Shea getting us started ? pic.twitter.com/LMOTz491W1

— Athletics (@Athletics) May 16, 2025

The Dodgers did come right back against Osvaldo Bido in their half of the 1st, as Mookie Betts walked with one out and stole second, Freddie Freeman singled to right to score him, and Max Muncy clubbed his third homer of the year to make it 3-1 in a flash.

Freddie Freeman starts the scoring for the Dodgers and ties things up with a single. pic.twitter.com/BgIGVnQtuU

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 16, 2025

Back-to-back games with a homer from Max! pic.twitter.com/nXTvPlbLcU

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 16, 2025

The A’s did get one back in the 2nd via a homer from Max Schuemann that cut the Dodgers lead to 3-2…

Schue’s first homer of the season ? pic.twitter.com/xNxdkTsClH

— Athletics (@Athletics) May 16, 2025

…but Sauer didn’t give up anything else in the 3rd or 4th innings as he continues to eat valuable innings for this team desperate for a guy that can do just that.

——

It’s unfortunate Sauer wasn’t allowed to go five, as the Dodgers bats absolutely unloaded in the Athletics while he was pitching.

In their half of the 2nd, Dalton Rushing drew his first MLB walk in his first MLB plate appearance, and a one-out Hyeseong Kim single cornered the runners. Rushing then scored on Shohei Ohtani just missing one near the track to push the lead to 4-2.

Dalton Rushing draws a walk in his first MLB PA. pic.twitter.com/RHcUwSocOb

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 16, 2025

Dalton Rushing scores his first MLB run on a sac fly from Shohei Ohtani. pic.twitter.com/zFmoINg4sQ

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 16, 2025

After Kim stole second and almost hurt himself due to another non-call interference, Mookie Betts singled to score him and push the lead to 5-2.

After Hyeseong Kim stole second despite a foot trying to break his hand, Mookie Betts singles to add on. pic.twitter.com/FFRZiYmlOj

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 16, 2025

After a Freeman single followed, Bido was yanked from the game, but the A’s nightmare was just starting, as Muncy followed by dumping another single and scoring another to make it 6-2.

Muncy suddenly can do no wrong as he dumps a two-strike single for another run. pic.twitter.com/5OIIaut0f8

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 16, 2025

Remarkably that wasn’t near the worst of it tonight. With one down in the 3rd, Rushing again made an impact by working a 3-2 count and then singling up the middle for his first MLB hit.

The first Major League hit for Dalton Rushing is in the books. Congratulations, Dalton! pic.twitter.com/mX6s3YE3dV

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 16, 2025

After a James Outman walked, Kim jumped on the first pitch to single the opposite way and drive in Rushing for a run.

Yeah, Kim can’t go anywhere. pic.twitter.com/5Vcmf34xaV

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 16, 2025

Not one to be shown up by the rookies on his own night, Shohei Ohtani smashed a three-run shot to make it 10-2.

Shohei homering on his bobblehead night? Just like clockwork. pic.twitter.com/580JBZi2AC

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 16, 2025

That wasn’t even the only one of the inning, as Betts drew a walk after, Freddie did the same after the second out, and Andy Pages smashed a three-run shot of his own to center to make it 13-2.

Andy makes it 13 runs in three innings! pic.twitter.com/KWGPTKlwhi

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 16, 2025

That was it for the 3rd, but amusingly, in the 4th it was Kim drawing a one-out walk and Ohtani following with his 15th dong of the year to tie for the NL lead and make it 15-2.

SHOHEI AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/YzOWoKfxUu

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 16, 2025

After no runs in the 5th (!!!), the Dodgers added behind James Outman’s second homer in the 6th to make it 16-2.

James makes it 16 runs, a new Dodgers season high! pic.twitter.com/RUT2Y52aNs

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 16, 2025

After nothing in the 7th, it was a position player Jhonny Pereda in the 8th, and the Dodgers got some more runs. A Rushing infield single was followed by a Outman single, and then a Kim ground-rule double led to another, and Rojas dumped a single to make it 18-2.

Miggy singles to add another as they go station to station. pic.twitter.com/QduCGlNLwo

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 16, 2025

Pereda was having some fun with a fadeaway pitch…

You’ve seen a fadeaway jumper, now you have a fadeaway pitch. pic.twitter.com/hjApnVMu7f

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 16, 2025

…but he focused up and amusingly struck out Ohtani of all people, after which he got the ball saved.

Jhonny Pereda strikes out Shohei “The Fraud” Ohtani with 89 mph heat. pic.twitter.com/0fyeaCHKuZ

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 16, 2025

He followed that with a walk to load the bases, but the Dodgers only got one more behind a Muncy sac fly to push things to the final of 19-2.

——

Thankfully, that lead gave the pen an amusing rest day despite it technically being a pen game.

In relief of Sauer in the 5th was Anthony Banda, who faced the minimum when a walk was erased by a double play.

From there it was all Justin Wrobleski, who faced the minimum over the final four innings for the save. He gave up just a single that was erased by a double play, striking out four batters to close things out.

——

Emo-tani.

Why he look like “crawling in my skin, these wounds, they will not heal” here. pic.twitter.com/hsNGqKu7Dp

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 16, 2025

======

The Dodgers will now welcome in the Angels for the Freeway Series starting tomorrow at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET. It’ll be Dustin May on the mound looking to build on his last outing against Jack Kochanowicz, which I definitely didn’t have to double check the spelling of.