WASHINGTON — The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Washington Nationals 6-5 in a closely contested game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Nationals Park. The victory improved the Dodgers’ record to 10-4, placing them third in the National League West, while the Nationals fell to 5-7, fourth in the NL East. The game, attended by 21,014 fans, featured strong offensive performances and critical late-inning plays under sunny 52-degree conditions.
The Dodgers secured the win with a two-run seventh inning, overcoming an early 5-4 deficit. Teoscar Hernández led Los Angeles with a three-run homer in the first inning off Nationals starter Jake Irvin, finishing 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Andy Pages sealed the victory with a solo home run in the seventh off reliever Cesar Salazar, who took the loss (0-1, 4.05 ERA). Tommy Edman also contributed, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a triple. Kirby Yates earned the win (1-0, 2.84 ERA) with a scoreless sixth, and Blake Treinen notched his second save, allowing one hit in the ninth.
For the Nationals, CJ Abrams opened the scoring with a solo homer in the first off Dodgers starter Landon Knack, who struggled, yielding five runs over 2.1 innings (10.38 ERA). Luis García Jr. added a two-run double in the third, helping Washington build a 5-4 lead. However, the Nationals’ bullpen faltered late, with Salazar surrendering the decisive runs in his 0.2-inning outing. Abrams and DeJong each stole a base in the ninth, but Treinen held firm to close the game.
The Dodgers jumped ahead early, with Hernández’s fifth homer of the season driving in Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts in a four-run first. Ohtani, serving as designated hitter, went 2-for-4 with a stolen base, raising his batting average to .315. The Nationals responded with three runs in the first and two in the third, capitalizing on Knack’s rough outing. Los Angeles’ bullpen, including scoreless innings from Anthony Banda, Tanner Scott, and Alex Vesia, stabilized the game before the seventh-inning rally.
Washington’s Irvin pitched six innings, allowing four runs on four hits with seven strikeouts, but Salazar’s blown save (1) shifted momentum. The Nationals left six runners on base and went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, while the Dodgers converted 3-for-8 in similar situations. Both teams played error-free defense, with Vesia picking off Jacob Young at first in the eighth.
The game, which lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes, began at 4:05 p.m. with umpires Chris Guccione (home plate), David Rackley (first), Edwin Moscoso (second), and Tom Hanahan (third) officiating. Wind blew at 6 mph toward right field. MLB.com provided detailed box scores and video highlights.
The win keeps the Dodgers competitive in the NL West, trailing the division-leading San Diego Padres, who stood at 11-3 entering Wednesday’s action, per ESPN standings. The Nationals, meanwhile, continue to seek consistency early in the 2025 season.
