Dodgers’ Bats are Gearing up for October

by Jake Lax, August 06, 2025

The defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers played host to the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night. There certainly was no shortage of offense in this one, with both teams combining for 26 hits: 17 from the Dodgers and 9 from the Cardinals. This comes after L.A. managed only 3 hits the night before against the Cardinals in a quiet loss.

This time around, the Dodgers got the best of the Cardinals in a 12-6 win. The win was powered by multi-home run games from cleanup hitters, Max Muncy and 2024 Home Run Derby champion Teoscar Hernandez. Max Muncy, fresh off the IL after a month-long knee injury, wasted no time in just his second game back. He wasted no time getting going in only his second game back, finishing the game 4 for 5 with 4 RBIs.

First Inning Fireworks

The first inning for the Dodgers is always worth watching due to a lineup stacked with superstars and power hitters. In terms of MLB rankings this year, the Dodgers are tied for second with the Boston Red Sox, averaging the most runs in the first inning with 0.68 runs. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to many, as the lineup starts off with three Hall of Famers, in Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. With those three starting off the game, Los Angeles is almost guaranteed to put at least one baserunner on for its cleanup spot to drive in.

Starting pitcher for the Dodgers was right-hander Emmet Sheehan, who was able to go three up, three down with two strikeouts in the top half of the first. Los Angeles set the tone early, just as they usually do, with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. A leadoff double from Ohtani, who would be brought in by a sacrifice fly from Freddie Freeman. Following Freeman’s RBI, Max Muncy blasts a solo shot 416 feet to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead to start the game.

Muncy’s night wasn’t flawless, though. In the top of the second inning, he committed a costly fielding error that allowed Willson Contreras to reach base, giving the Cardinals their first baserunner of the game. This baserunner proved costly as it led to a two-out home run by second baseman Nolan Gorman to tie up the ballgame 2-2.

Mikolas Struggles

After surrendering two runs in the first inning, Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas appeared to settle in. Mikolas was able to escape the second inning, only allowing 1 hit, with Ohtani grounding into a double play to end the inning. The trouble came in the bottom of the third inning as Mookie Betts hit a leadoff double and advanced to third on a Freddie Freeman groundout. That brought up Max Muncy, who has already taken Mikolas deep in the first. Muncy didn’t miss his chance as he powered another homer, this time a two-run shot to reclaim the lead for L.A. The fireworks didn’t stop there, as Teoscar Hernandez followed with a solo shot of his own to go back-to-back with Muncy, keeping the Dodger Stadium crowd on its feet.

Miles Mikolas lasted just three innings, recording only nine outs before getting the hook. He gave up seven hits and five earned runs, picking up his second consecutive loss. The rough outing bumped the 36-year-old’s ERA to 5.11 on the season, along with a 6-9 record.

Bullpen Disasters

Emmet Sheehan was able to control the St. Louis bats for most of the night. The two-run homer in the second didn’t count against his earned run total, due to the Muncy error. Sheehan pitched five solid innings, allowing four hits and striking out five.

The bullpens for both Los Angeles and St. Louis struggled to close out the game. Ben Casparius came in for the Dodgers and allowed three hits and one run as the Cardinals fought back, still down 3-5. The bottom of the seventh saw St. Louis bring in Ryan Fernandez, but he showed no control. He issued back-to-back walks to Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts, setting the table once again for Max Muncy. As Muncy hits a line drive single to extend the Dodger lead and record his fourth RBI of the night.

The Cardinals make a bullpen change to Andre Granillo with two runners on. Granillo gets brought into a no-easy-situation as he faces the 2024 Home Run Derby champ, Teoscar Hernandez, who has already homered once in the game. Hernandez works a 2-1 count and blasts another shot 429 feet. A three-run home run for Teoscar Hernandez, pouring it on St. Louis, 9-3.

Late Push Not Enough

The Cardinals managed to get some kind of offense going late with three more runs. One coming off a solo home run from Willson Contreras, who finished the night with two hits and two runs scored. While St. Louis showed sparks at the plate, the Dodgers simply brought more firepower and flair. With 17 hits on the night, L.A. cruised to a 12-6 victory, evening the series at one game apiece.

The Cardinals fall one game below .500 at 57-58. Hitting a cold streak as of late, going 3-7 in their last ten games. The Dodgers improve to 66-48 atop the NL West standings by three games. The series concludes on August 6, with Shohei Ohtani on the mound for Los Angeles and Matthew Liberatore starting for St. Louis.