LOS ANGELES, CA – July 5, 2025 – The Houston Astros continued their dominant performance at Dodger Stadium, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4 to clinch their three-game series. The win spoiled Shohei Ohtani’s 31st birthday and marked the Astros’ second consecutive victory over the defending champions.
Framber Valdez (10-4) earned the win for the Astros, battling through six innings and allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out seven. Josh Hader (25th save) secured the final four outs, including a crucial strikeout of Esteury Ruiz with two on in the eighth, to preserve the victory and record his major league-leading 25th save. Dodgers reliever Justin Wrobleski (4-3) took the loss after Shohei Ohtani made his fourth mound start of the season, pitching two scoreless innings to begin the game as he continues his return from elbow surgery.
The Dodgers got on the board early with Mookie Betts hitting a solo home run in the first inning and Miguel Rojas adding an RBI single in the second, putting them up 2-0.
However, the Astros’ offense ignited in the third inning. Zack Short delivered a two-run double, followed by an RBI single from Cam Smith and another RBI single from Christian Walker, putting Houston ahead 4-2.
Yainer Diaz extended the lead in the fourth with his 11th home run of the season, a solo shot, making it 5-2. The Dodgers responded in the bottom half with a two-run homer from Miguel Rojas, narrowing the gap to 5-4.
The game remained a tight one-run affair until the top of the eighth when Victor Caratini hit a sacrifice fly to score Jose Altuve, giving the Astros a crucial insurance run, making it 6-4.
Despite Shohei Ohtani’s impressive two scoreless innings on the mound, the Dodgers’ bullpen couldn’t contain the Astros’ potent offense that has now scored 24 runs in the first two games of the series.
With this series-clinching victory, the Houston Astros improved their season record to 54 wins and 35 losses (54-35). They will aim for the sweep against the Dodgers tomorrow in the series finale.
