LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani opened Sunday’s game with his 41st homer, but Ernie Clement’s leadoff, tiebreaking shot in the ninth inning gave the AL-leading Toronto Blue Jays a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, helping Toronto avoid a series sweep.
The victory featured drama in the ninth. Rookie left-hander Mason Fluharty earned his first career save after replacing inconsistent closer Jeff Hoffman with the bases loaded and one out. Fluharty struck out Ohtani on a full-count breaking ball and then induced a game-ending grounder from Mookie Betts. Hoffman, saddled with the loss (7-4), had walked Freddie Freeman with the bases loaded in the eighth to erase Toronto’s lead and then issued three walks among the first four batters in the ninth.
Toronto rallied in the eighth against Blake Treinen. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. tied the game with a homer and Addison Barger followed with a go-ahead shot, both coming on belt-high sweepers from Treinen. In the ninth, Clement hammered the first pitch from Alex Vesia into the left-field bleachers for the decisive run.
Ohtani’s leadoff homer came on Eric Lauer’s fourth pitch and traveled roughly 400 feet — his third homer in four games. He finished with two hits and was intentionally walked twice. Freddie Freeman also homered for the Dodgers in the first. Tyler Glasnow turned in another strong outing for Los Angeles, working into the sixth while allowing two runs on four hits and four walks with eight strikeouts. Despite effective starts like this, Glasnow’s personal winless streak stretched to 10 starts since March 31, even as his ERA sits at 1.82 since returning from the injured list.
Why this mattered
– Toronto showed resilience and timely hitting late in the game, relying on Guerrero Jr., Barger and Clement to manufacture a comeback and the walk-off-style tiebreaker.
– Fluharty’s composed finish highlights promising bullpen depth for the Blue Jays and offers a possible short-term answer when Hoffman struggles.
– For the Dodgers, Glasnow’s quality outing was undermined by bullpen miscues, an issue that has cost them in close games.
Quick summary
– Final: Blue Jays 5, Dodgers 4.
– Key plays: Ohtani leadoff homer (41); Guerrero Jr. and Barger homers in the eighth; Clement leadoff homer in the ninth; Fluharty’s first career save.
– Notable stats: Ohtani has 23 career leadoff homers and leads MLB with 11 leadoff homers this season.
What this suggests
Toronto’s ability to rally and a rookie stepping up in the ninth are encouraging signs for a team leading the AL and navigating the long season. The Blue Jays’ bench and bullpen depth showed up in a high-leverage moment. For the Dodgers, Glasnow’s continued strong starts reinforce his value, but the bullpen’s inconsistency remains a concern that could require roster or usage adjustments.
Up next
– Dodgers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (10-7, 2.51 ERA) opens the Freeway Series in Anaheim on Monday.
– Blue Jays: José Berríos (8-4, 3.89 ERA) takes the mound in Toronto against the Cubs on Tuesday.
Additional comment
Mason Fluharty’s composed performance under extreme pressure is a bright spot for Toronto and a reminder of how quickly a young reliever can become a trusted option. For Dodgers fans, the takeaway is twofold: enjoy Glasnow’s elite command when healthy, but keep an eye on late-inning matchups — the bullpen has decided several recent outcomes. A hopeful angle: both clubs showed pieces to build on — Toronto with clutch offense and bullpen depth, and the Dodgers with frontline starting pitching that, if paired with a steadier late relief corps, could turn narrow losses into wins.