Astros vs. Dodgers Game Highlights (7/5/25) | MLB Highlights

Two first place teams, one that everybody saw coming in the defending champion Dodgers. The other one though, the Houston Astros. Every excuse not to be at the top of the division once again, but here they are. What a matchup we've got. Frambois Valdez for the Astros, Shohei Otani makes his fourth start for the Dodgers. Shohei on his birthday is one of the greatest athletes we're ever going to see. We get to see him at the plate, we get to see him on the mound. Although for only two innings, this guy is getting primed and ready for a September run that I think you'll see a full compliment of innings out of him. So here he is, Shohei Otani, ready to make his fourth start this season and his fourth start in a couple years. By the way, he's still hit 30 home runs to lead the National League and so he's got a lot to celebrate here on his 31st birthday. I'm glad he invited us to his party. This is going to be good, huh? Hooked into left field, Quique Hernandez comes on, plays it on a bounce and a leadoff hit for Paredes. How about this kid here, Cam Smith, who got drafted less than a year ago by the Chicago Cubs and he's just charged his way up that lineup. Broken bat, bouncer up the middle for Tommy Edmonds, steps on the bat, over the cross for two. Just a very thoughtful play, don't rush it, let the ball come to you. It's a broken bat, another good pitch by Otani and the big double play behind him. Second double play induced in his last two starts and here come the boos for Jose Altuve. Rolled to short, Mickey Betts comes in, skips it up off the dirt, throws it over to Freddie Freeman and Shohei Otani faces the minimum. If you're looking for a snapshot of what makes this guy different, how about this? He walks off of the mound after the score is first inning. He doesn't even go back into the dugout. They've got his hitting gear waiting for him. He straps up and heads up there to lead things off with a National League leading 30 home run. The stud left-hander from Valdez and the Astros have won each of his last 10 games that he has started, so he is going to be a tough task. He is now coming into his ballgame, 13 consecutive scoreless innings and it all began towards the end of May. Chopped the long first, it's a fair ball, backs up Walker, race to the bag, won by Valdez. Like to get going hot right before the all-star break, get some good feelings with Mookie Betts since June 10th, but not Mookie Betts like. 173 in that stretch, Carrillo 247 overall. Valdez back home with an 0-2 to Betts, into the curveball, lift it in the air to left center field. Dubon going back, it is gone! An 0-2 pitch, Mookie Betts turns around a curveball that makes it 1-0 Dodgers. After going 20 games without a home run, his second in his last three. That home run, Fromber just allowed to Betts, only the third home run he's given up over his last 11 starts. That's been a big reason for his success. Walker digs in to lead off the second, Otani back out there for a second frame of work. Another 3-2, strike three swinging. And on the slider, Otani's first strikeout of the game, the first out of the second inning. Back to back strikeouts, a video game pitch right there to get Caratini. Again, is in the right place at the right time mechanically, throws all the pitches that you want for all the alleys to give a hitter a nightmare. Another 1-2 to Diaz, he got him swinging and he strikes out the side. Happy birthday, Shohei Otani. Pajes started this inning with an infield single, he's still at first. And Valdez deals another 2-2, Pajes runs again, throw from Diaz, skips into center field. Pajes takes 90 more, throw coming from center field, bounces by there. It'll be a stolen base for sure, and in an air, allowing Pajes to get to third. Valdez is one of the best pitchers in baseball, two strikes. Having a hard time putting Rojas away, this will be the ninth pitch coming here. Pace it into center field. Miguel Rojas delivers out of the ninth spot, Pajes into score, 2-0 L.A. Justin Robleski takes the bump to face the bottom of the order, Cooper Hummel. Justin Robleski takes over for Otani, and Cooper Hummel greets him with a base hit to the left center field gap, cut off by Pajes, holds him to a single. Dubon hooks one down the line towards the corner, sailing off the wall. Mauricio Dubon along that bat that ends in a double, and another one of those guys just kind of lurking there down at the bottom of the lineup, a glue-type guy that always seems to deliver for Houston. So back-to-back hits for the Astros to open this third inning against the Dodger lefty. Here's Zach Short, he's got one job to do, get him over, get him in. On the ground and a fair ball down the line for Zach Short. His first hit as an Astro will tie this game. Justin Robleski had given up two earned runs in his last two outings, 11 combined innings. He has two earned runs hung on him here, three batters in. Cam Smith chops the first one, he sees the third. Rojas on the move, throws wildly. The Astros take the lead and a throwing error from Miguel Rojas. Short into score, 3-2 Houston. Well, he got it plenty of time, but looked like he didn't have a good grip when he threw that ball and just slung it. Christian Walker, right-hander, has feasted at Dodger Stadium in his career, including a home run in six consecutive games. They're not putting him on. Smith on second base, two away. Ground ball up the middle and through. Four runs for the Astros in this third inning. Christian Walker drives in Cam Smith and keeps his big road trip going. Astros brought eight men to the plate in their first inning against Robleski. Yet another big inning for this Astros offense and a weekend full of them. And he whacks this one to center field. Back on it, Pajé, still going back, and she's gone. Si senor for Yair Diaz, his 11th of the season. A loud crack of the bat and it's 5-2. Robleski continues to fall behind in the count. So, Fabre Valdez after giving up a run in the first and in the second, settling into this game. And Rojas does have an RBI base hit today that made it 2-0. He's also had a couple of misplays at third base. Trying to make up for it here once again with the bat. And that's belted toward the left center field gap. Miguel Rojas toward the wall. It's good! It just got over the home run seats. A nine spot monster for the Dodgers today. Rojas is two for two and has knocked in three. That's who went deep earlier today. Hooks it down to left field. That is down and it gets by Hummel. Trouble for the Astros. Extra bases for Betts. On his way to third. Throw from Dubon. In time! And the time runs cut down at third. Betts gambles with nobody out and makes the first out at third base. Dodgers has done a much better job at Jose Otuve after he went three for three with a pair of home runs yesterday. Jumps on this pitch. Hits it over Hernandez and off of the wall. Ricochets into no man's land. And so much for keeping Otuve down. He's at third with a lead off triple. His fourth extra base hit of the weekend. Two home runs and a double last night and now a triple. The lead off the eight. Run away for Caratini after he had three hits yesterday. And a fly ball to left center field. This will get the job done. Hernandez back and he makes the ground. Otuve will come in to score and it's a 6-4 game. Tying runs on base for the Dodgers. Well nobody wants to get hit but I think the Dodgers will trade a bruise to try and get the tying runs on base. And the Dodgers will go to the bench for a pinch hitter. That's on Kim. We'll step in for Kike Hernandez. Now on a 1-2. Kim swings and misses. Strike three. Two gone in the eighth. A little chess match going here. Michael Conforto sent up as a pinch hitter for Miguel Rojas who has driven in three runs today. Joe Espada is going to get his left handed closer Josh Hader. How about this? So Dave Roberts going two for one here. He sent up Michael Conforto as the pinch hitter. Instead of having Conforto face the lefty Hader, Asturi Ruiz goes up. Got him swinging. Josh Hader with the first of what the Astros hope will be four outs to finish this off. Josh Hader looking for a four out save for the Astros. Trying to make it a perfect 25 out of 25 to open this season. He's going to have to earn it. Top of the lineup for the Dodgers here. Ohtani the lead off. Then Betts. Then Will Smith. That's a base hit to lead off the run. And it is a slide a bit over the plate. Brings a tying run to the plate. When you know Mookie Betts, even though he's having a good day with two extra base hits, including a home run, would love a chance at some redemption here. After he made an out at third. Trying to do it against somebody who has not budged all year. On the hands. Popped into left. On comes Trammell. He's still coming. He's there. And Betts is the first out of the nine. Now among the many things Will Smith has been so good at for the Dodgers this year. Clutch hitting. Up there is the tying run with one going in the ninth. Ohtani leads it first. Hader comes home with a fastball for strike three. And the Dodgers are down to their last out. Now the final hope for the Dodgers is Freddie Freeman, who was 0 for 4 today with three strikeouts. And that's lifted to left shallow. Coming in Trammell. Going out Paredes. Paredes now on foul ground. Makes the two-handed grab. And that is the ball game. For the second straight day the Astros are victorious at Dodger Stadium. Winning today 6 to 4. Astros went ahead with a four-run third inning. And didn't look back as they have won 10 of their last 12.