Dodgers vs Nationals Recap: Late surge seals 8-6 win

The Los Angeles Dodgers visited the Washington Nationals on Sunday, April 5 at the Nationals' home field. The Dodgers scored eight runs and the Nationals scored six in a lively game. Both teams battled early, and the score swung back and forth while fans stayed on their feet. Roki Sasaki started for Los Angeles and Foster Griffin started for Washington. The final score was Dodgers 8, Nationals 6, and the game had big homers and a dramatic late comeback that decided the outcome.

In the third inning Shohei Ohtani launched a cutter into center field for a solo homer that traveled 438 feet and put the Dodgers ahead. That blast came with one out on a 2-1 count and a loud 115 mph exit velocity. Washington answered in the bottom of the third when García Jr. hit a two-run homer to center on a 97 mph fastball, giving the Nationals a 2-1 lead. The early exchange made the game feel urgent and competitive.

The real turning point came in the fourth inning when Washington erupted for four runs. Ruiz reached on an infield single that scored Abrams and made it 3–1. Then Wood smashed a splitter over the center field wall, a three-run homer that cleared the bases and pushed Washington to a 6–1 lead. That 416-foot shot came on a 0–2 count and changed the game's feel. The Nationals suddenly led by five, and the Dodgers had to rally from far behind.

Los Angeles began chipping away in the sixth when Rushing homered to right center, bringing the Dodgers closer at 3–6. In the eighth the rally exploded: Espinal singled home two runs and Freeman and Pages scored, Call moved to second, and the Dodgers tied the game with a fielder's choice that scored Call. Ohtani then hit a sacrifice fly to put Los Angeles ahead 7–6. In the ninth T. Hernández added a solo homer to make it 8–6 and seal the win.