Down to their last strike, Freddie Freeman ends up walking it off for an improbable win – Dodgers Digest

Needless to say, I did not expect to be writing a winning recap.

Giving the people what they want. pic.twitter.com/JT6UJMfcvQ

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 23, 2025

While Tyler Glasnow dominated and Shohei Ohtani homered again, the rest of the game was mostly just frustration after frustration for the Dodgers. Like … it was bad, man.

The 9th looked like it would be yet another one, but instead they mounted an improbable late rally against the pen of the Twins and Freddie Freeman walked it off for a 4-3 victory.

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In all the doom and gloom that has surrounded the Dodgers, at least Tyler Glasnow has returned from injury looking every bit like the guy they were hoping for.

After getting the first two batters of the game, he surrendered a walk, but only due to a pair of perfectly-located fastballs not being given. No matter, as he got the next four batters of the game. The 3rd started with a Royce Lewis homer, but that was the only run the Twins would get off him.

Rolls Royce ?‍? pic.twitter.com/45QbtG8S7H

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 23, 2025

He then retired seven of the next eight batters before Lewis doubled in the 5th, but he resumed dominance after that, closing by retiring the final eight batters he faced.

Of all the guys to let go deep, letting him do it coming off injury seemed pretty desperate, but I suppose they are: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 12 K, 106 Pitches.

Tyler Glasnow was dominant, striking out 12 over 7 innings. He’s allowed just two earned runs in three starts since returning. pic.twitter.com/RCCWxAExcs

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 23, 2025

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Unfortunately for him, his teammates didn’t give him much support.

Chris Paddack basically hasn’t been good since 2019, but that certainly didn’t matter to this lineup in their current state. That said, things didn’t start horribly, as he hit his 37th homer with one out in the 1st, which is also his fifth consecutive game with a dong.

Five straight games with a Shohei homer! pic.twitter.com/lRy6htHf0N

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 23, 2025

That Shohei bat flip. ? pic.twitter.com/NOcMkcIL96

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 23, 2025

Shohei Ohtani has homered for the fifth straight game for the first time in his career.

— Sonja Chen (@SonjaMChen) July 23, 2025

After an infield single immediately followed, Paddack retired the next eight in a row. While he gave up a single to start the 4th, it was immediately erased by a double play, so he faced the minimum in the frame. Paddack followed that by giving up just a two-out single in the 5th and getting a clean 6th to end his day with surprising dominance.

Sigh.

The great Twins pen took over in the 7th and started shakily after a bloop single from Freddie Freeman and an Andy Pages walk. Dave Roberts pinch-hit Will Smith here but he flew out, and he then turned to Miguel Rojas for Hyeseong Kim, getting rewarded with a walk to load the bases up.

Tommy Edman thankfully responded, singling over the infield playing in for a 2-1 lead.

Tommy for the lead! pic.twitter.com/DxJfYQwJ8C

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 23, 2025

Dino Ebel probably should’ve sent Andy Pages, as James Outman followed by grounding into a force out at home, and Mookie Betts did his usual thing by flying out weakly to the opposite field in right.

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Oh right, but the Dodgers bullpen also had to pitch, and Kirby Yates continued the unmitigated disaster for that unit in the 8th. He walked the bases loaded while giving up three steals as that happened, exiting the game having thrown just six of his 18 pitches for strikes.

Just … I dunno, man.

To try and minimize the damage, Alex Vesia entered and he mostly did his best. He began by inducing a double play that tied the game at 2-2, and then got a comebacker that bounced over his head for an infield single that made it 3-2 before he was able to end the horror show.

BADER! FOR THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/IoDoTZQpgP

— Twins.TV (@twinstv) July 23, 2025

What a fucking embarrassment.

It’s honestly hard to do. https://t.co/5p8ut4la8E

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 23, 2025

Anthony Banda looked good at least, giving up just a single in the 9th and striking out the side.

At the time, I had no idea how important that’d be.

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Speaking of embarrassment, the Dodgers got a Teoscar Hernandez infield single with one out, a two-out stolen base by pinch-runner Esteury Ruiz, Andy Pages got hit by a pitch, both of them advanced on a passed ball, Will Smith was intentionally walked to load the bases, and … Miguel Rojas popped out to second.

Yay.

They looked like they would end up doing similar in the 9th. With two outs, Mookie Betts got down 1-2 in the count, but then worked the count and legged out an infield single.

Did Mookie swing? pic.twitter.com/bpQfiYWjj6

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 23, 2025

Shohei Ohtani was then intentionally walked to get to Ruiz (who was in the game to run earlier), which made sense on paper, but Ruiz ended up walking on five pitches to load the bases.

Tension.

Freeman then promptly got behind 0-2 to give them one strike left again, but he eventually lofted a single to left that fell just in front of a diving Harrison Bader for the win.

WALK IT OFF, FREDDIE! pic.twitter.com/knyYtpOmir

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 23, 2025

I’m honestly in shock.

“Shades of October in July. Freddie Freeman, the hero.” pic.twitter.com/UYpu5Petx5

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 24, 2025

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The Dodgers will now get a day off, but will have to travel to Boston for a three-game series with the Red Sox, which starts a nine-game road trip. The first game of that series will be at 1:10 PM HT/4:10 PM PT/7:10 PM ET and will feature Emmet Sheehan on the mound against Brayan Bello.