The Nationals crushed the Dodgers 7-3 on June 22, 2025, as Nathaniel Lowe's two homers exposed Yoshinobu Yamamoto and LA's pitching in a 5-HR barrage.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a beautiful Sunday at Chavez Ravine, but the results on the field were anything but. The Dodgers fell 7-3 to the Washington Nationals in a game defined by the long ball—unfortunately, all of them flying out of the Nats' bats. A five-homer barrage from Washington overwhelmed the Dodgers' pitching and spoiled an otherwise perfect afternoon for baseball.
The Nationals launched five home runs against the Dodgers, with Nathaniel Lowe accounting for two of them in a 7-3 rout.
You can't win a ballgame when you're constantly fishing balls out of the pavilion. The Nationals treated Dodger Stadium like a launching pad, with Nathaniel Lowe playing the role of chief tormentor. Lowe blasted two homers and drove in three, leading an offensive explosion that saw Washington hit five round-trippers in total. Starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto had a rare off day, getting tagged for four runs on seven hits in just five innings. While Mookie Betts (2-for-4 with a double) and Freddie Freeman (solo homer) tried to spark a comeback, the offense just couldn't keep pace with the Nats' relentless power display. The loss drops the Dodgers to 47-32, a frustrating end to the series.
The struggles on the mound Sunday are a symptom of a larger issue, and the front office is clearly feeling the heat. Ahead of the game, the team announced a flurry of moves. RHP Will Klein is back up from Triple-A, presumably to offer a fresh arm. In a more intriguing move, the Dodgers acquired LHP Zach Penrod from the Red Sox for cash. At the same time, RHP Jack Little was optioned back to OKC. These moves underscore the constant search for pitching depth as the team navigates a minefield of injuries.
The biggest blow of the day might have come before the first pitch. The team transferred prized RHP Roki Sasaki to the 60-day injured list, a move that officially pushes his potential return deep into the summer and confirms the severity of his setback. It's a gut punch for a rotation that was counting on his electric arm. There is some good news, however. Tyler Glasnow (Tommy John) is reportedly back to throwing bullpen sessions, eyeing a late-season return that would be a massive boost. Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) is also progressing, with hopes of a rehab assignment in August. But with River Ryan and Gavin Stone already done for the year, the health of the pitching staff remains the team's biggest question mark.
Today's loss stings, but it's the underlying pitching concerns that will keep fans up at night. With Sasaki's timeline now extended and the bullpen being patched together, the Dodgers' depth is being tested like never before. The returns of Glasnow and Graterol can't come soon enough. For now, the team has to find a way to weather this storm, starting with the next series. It's time to wash this one off and hope the bats can carry the load while the arms get right.
