The Nationals stun the Dodgers 7-3 on June 22, 2025, with a 5-homer barrage. Despite a homer from Freddie Freeman, LA's pitching falters. Read the full recap.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a beautiful day at Dodger Stadium, but the result was anything but, as the Washington Nationals played long ball to take the rubber match of the series, 7-3. The Dodgers were undone by a five-homer barrage, a rare sight in their own ballpark, exposing concerning cracks in both the starting rotation and the bullpen that will need to be addressed.
'We have the talent, but we need to be sharper in big spots.' - Dave Roberts
The game's narrative was written in the flight of the baseball. Starter Bobby Miller had decent stuff but couldn't keep the ball in the yard, surrendering three home runs over his 5.1 innings of work. The Nationals' power surge was relentless, capped by Nathaniel Lowe's second homer of the day, a crushing two-run shot in the seventh that put the game out of reach. The bullpen couldn't stop the bleeding, as Ryan Brasier and Alex Vesia allowed three more runs, marking the fourth time in five games that the relief corps has faltered. This trend is quickly becoming the team's most pressing concern.
Despite the team's struggles, the top of the order continued to produce. Freddie Freeman provided a spark with a solo shot in the sixth inning for his 15th home run of the season. Mookie Betts, holding down the shortstop position again, chipped in with a 2-for-4 day including a double and an RBI. Andy Pages also drove in a run with a single. However, these bright spots weren't enough to overcome the pitching woes, and the team's impressive streak of multi-homer games was snapped at five.
Manager Dave Roberts didn't mince words after the game, directly addressing the bullpen's performance. 'We need to tighten up the bullpen,' he told reporters, emphasizing a need for better execution. While he praised the consistency of Freeman and Betts, his focus was clearly on the pitching staff's inability to shut the door. 'Bobby had good stuff early, but left a few pitches up and they made us pay,' Roberts added, summing up a frustrating day on the mound.
Losing a series at home is never ideal, but at 47-32, the Dodgers are still in a strong position. The key takeaway from this Sunday letdown is the glaring need for bullpen stability. As Dave Roberts said, the talent is there, but execution in high-leverage moments has become a critical focus. Expect the team to work on tightening up those late innings as they look to rebound and get back in the win column tomorrow.
