The Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off their nine-game road trip with a crucial 5-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Friday, July 25, 2025. The win offered a much-needed boost for the Dodgers, who, like the Red Sox, have been navigating a challenging period since the All-Star break, with both teams holding a 2-4 record in the post-break stretch.
The Dodgers, now standing at 60-43 and firmly atop the National League West, opened the scoring in the second inning. Andy Pages doubled to deep center, and then T. Edman singled to shallow left, bringing Pages home for the game’s first run. They extended their lead in the third when Teoscar Hernandez drew a walk with the bases loaded, scoring Shohei Ohtani. Pages followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Will Smith to score, pushing the lead to 3-0.
However, the Red Sox, currently 55-49 and holding the final American League wild card spot, quickly responded in the bottom of the third. Connor Wong doubled to deep left, and Jarren Duran singled to right, scoring Wong. Alex Bregman then doubled to deep left, bringing Duran home and narrowing the Dodgers’ lead to a single run, 3-2.
The game remained a tight contest until the eighth inning when the Dodgers found their offensive stride once more. Freddie Freeman singled to center, setting the stage for Teoscar Hernandez, who launched a two-run home run to center field, extending the Dodgers’ lead to 5-2. Hernandez finished the night with 3 RBIs, a pivotal performance for Los Angeles.
On the mound, Dodgers’ right-hander Emmet Sheehan (2-1) earned the win, pitching 5.0 innings and allowing two earned runs on three hits, while striking out five. The Dodgers’ bullpen, including Anthony Banda, Edgardo Henriquez, Alex Vesia, and Ben Casparius, effectively shut down the Red Sox offense for the remainder of the game. For the Red Sox, Brayan Bello (6-5) took the loss, giving up three earned runs on six hits over 5.1 innings, also striking out five.
The Dodgers entered the series without star shortstop Mookie Betts, who did not travel with the team due to a personal matter. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated that Betts is expected to arrive in Boston for Saturday’s game, though his return to the lineup remains uncertain. Betts, a former American League MVP and World Series champion with the Red Sox in 2018, was traded to the Dodgers in 2020. He is currently having a down season by his standards, batting .238 with 11 home runs and 45 RBIs in 94 games. Utilityman Miguel Rojas filled in at shortstop, and Shohei Ohtani moved to the leadoff spot in Betts’ absence.
The Red Sox were also short-handed, with third baseman Marcelo Mayer placed on the 10-day injured list due to a wrist sprain, expected to return around August 3. Despite their recent struggles, the Red Sox had been red-hot prior to the All-Star break, winning ten consecutive games. Both teams will look to find more consistency as the season progresses, with the Dodgers aiming to solidify their division lead and the Red Sox fighting for a playoff berth. The series continues Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Fenway Park.
For detailed game statistics, you can refer to the official box scores from CBS Sports and ESPN. Pre-game insights and team news were also provided by Yahoo Sports and NESN.
