Dodgers 6, Royals 5: Freeman, Muncy, and Shohei deliver a thrilling win to open the homestand

Chad Moriyama 08/10/2026 Game Recaps Leave A Comment

The Dodgers seemed to want to make a statement this homestand, and like a lot of things over the last month, they didn’t go as planned. Tarik Skubal struggled in his home opener, putting the Dodgers behind early, but the offense surged out into the lead for once. However, the pen faltered again immediately after, though thankfully it was the Dodgers who scored last and managed to keep it that way until the end for a 6-5 victory over the Royals.

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Dave Roberts wanted the Dodgers to put it in gear starting with today’s game, but things didn’t get off to the best start.

In Tarik Skubal’s home debut, a jam-shot lead-off single started the game, then Bobby Witt Jr. exchanged places after a groundout. He promptly stole second, which immediately proved important when Jac Caglianone grounded a ball back up the middle where Mookie Betts seemed positioned to field it, but he weirdly hesitated and that allowed it to get through for a single to score Witt and make it 1-0 Royals just like that.

Second time Mookie’s done something like that in a few days, dunno what that is, honestly.

Skubal then quickly induced a double play to end that mess, but obviously the Royals felt great about that start. He continued in the 2nd, where he looked frustrated with his fastball command, as he labored a bit despite only issuing a one-out walk in the frame. Things didn’t get any better in the 3rd, as he gave up a one-out double to Nick Loftin, then hung an 0-2 slider to Caglianone for a homer to make it 3-0 Royals. Brutal.

Skubal then retired the next six in a row, but the hit a batter and issued a walk to put a pair on before finally retiring Jac with a strikeout.

That was it for him, as he struggled with commanding everything and labored throughout: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 95 Pitches.

For the Dodgers out of the pen was Alex Vesia in the 6th, who cruised through an eight-pitch frame thanks to a stellar play by Tommy Edman in left.

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On the other end was Noah Cameron, who has been great in his last three starts, and the Dodgers have struggled against lefties.

After drawing a one-out walk, Andy Pages tagged on a flyout into the left-field corner to get into scoring position, but he was stranded there to end the 1st. They got another chance in the 2nd when Mookie Betts started the inning with a double down the line in left and Miguel Rojas followed by working a walk, but the Dodgers did what they have over this stretch and wasted it. Teoscar Hernandez grounded into a double play and Max Muncy followed with a strikeout to kill that off.

So that was depressing, but they got another chance in the 3rd, as Hunter Feduccia led off with a double. This time they cashed it in, as Shohei Ohtani followed by trading places with him for a run, and with one down Freddie Freeman singled (and got to second on the throw) to cut the deficit to 3-2 Royals.

Unfortunately, the rally died there as consecutive outs followed as a part of eight in a row retired for Cameron.

That was thankfully broken up to start the 6th with a lead-off Freddie Freeman single, though a pair of outs followed that. However, Miguel Rojas lined a double to put a pair in scoring position to knock Cameron out of the game. Righty specialist John Schreiber then entered, and Dave Roberts countered by hitting Kyle Tucker for Teoscar. The move worked, as Tucker drew a walk to load the bases and Max Muncy came through with a double down the line in right to clear the bases and give the Dodgers a 5-3 lead.

A lineout followed to prevent more damage, which would matter soon.

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That’s because the Dodgers pen continued in the 7th with arguably their best reliever for the last month or so in Jack Dreyer. He promptly gave up a single and got a pop-up, then gave up a homer to Kyle Isbel, who came into the game with a .619 OPS. 5-5.

I dunno, man.

Things looked like they might get worse after a walk and a steal, but Dreyer did respond with a pair of outs to escape that jam with the tie.

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To their credit, the Dodgers did come right back in the 7th against Alex Lange, as Shohei Ohtani singled and stole second on a Pages strikeout that was dubious but was also his own fault.

Freddie Freeman then came up with a single to score Shohei and make it 6-5 Dodgers, though he did meaninglessly get thrown out at second. After a single followed that, which made it look a bit costly, the rally ended there.

They then got nothing off Jose Cuas in the 8th to close the book on the bats.

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To try and finish the game was Tanner Scott in the 8th, getting the first out, then issuing a “walk” on six pitches where he actually threw four strikes but wasn’t able to challenge because of previous stupidity. Fortunately, he got a comebacker for a double play.

That set things up in the 9th for the struggling Edwin Diaz, who started promisingly with a strikeout, followed that was a deep flyout to center, and then got a groundout to first to end the game.

Save. Win.

Let’s get something going, man.

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NL SeedingRecordGB
Brewers74-45–
Braves71-483.0
Dodgers71-483.0

The series continues tomorrow at the same time of 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET with Blake Snell making his return from injury (again) against Michael Wacha.

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