On September 5, 2025, Oriole Park at Camden Yards buzzed with anticipation as the Baltimore Orioles (65-76, 5th in AL East) staged a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers (78-63, 1st in NL West) in a tightly contested interleague matchup. A late-game heroics by rookie catcher Samuel Basallo, who hit a walk-off home run in the ninth, secured the win for Baltimore, delighting the 25,481 fans in attendance despite the Orioles’ challenging season.
The game remained scoreless until the fifth inning when Baltimore capitalized on speed and a miscue. Jackson Holliday stole third base, and Gunnar Henderson swiped second during a wild pitch by Dodgers pitcher Ben Casparius, setting up an opportunity. Holliday later scored on a wild pitch, giving the Orioles a 1-0 lead. The Dodgers answered in the sixth when Freddie Freeman launched his 19th home run of the season off Orioles pitcher Dietrich Enns, a solo shot to center field that tied the game at 1-1.
Both teams struggled to convert scoring chances, with the Orioles leaving seven runners on base and the Dodgers stranding eight. Baltimore’s offense managed five hits, with Basallo leading the way, going 1-for-4 with his game-winning homer. Ryan Mountcastle added a double, while Henderson and Holliday showcased their speed with stolen bases. For the Dodgers, Freeman’s 4-for-12 performance, including the homer, drove their offense, but they went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, a critical factor in their defeat.
Pitching dominated much of the game. Baltimore’s Dean Kremer threw three scoreless innings, allowing no hits but walking four. Enns, Strowd, Wolfram, Garcia, and Yennier Cano combined for the remaining six innings, with Cano earning the win (3-6, 4.97 ERA) after a scoreless ninth. The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, pitching in addition to his designated hitter role, threw 3.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits with two wild pitches. Tanner Scott took the loss (1-3, 4.56 ERA) after surrendering Basallo’s homer. Los Angeles used seven pitchers, with Michael Kopech and Blake Treinen providing scoreless relief, but they couldn’t prevent the late collapse.
Defensively, both teams showed strengths and flaws. The Orioles turned a double play, but Holliday’s fielding error marked his 10th of the season. The Dodgers benefited from Treinen’s pickoff of Jorge Mateo at first base, and Mateo was later caught stealing, halting a potential Baltimore rally. The game, played under partly cloudy skies with a 7 mph breeze at 84 degrees, lasted three hours and one minute, concluding at 10:08 p.m.
The game’s intensity reflected the stakes for both teams. The Dodgers, leading the NL West, aimed to maintain their momentum, while the Orioles sought to build confidence late in a rebuilding year. Baltimore’s aggressive baserunning, with Holliday and Henderson combining for three stolen bases, aligned with their season-long strategy, ranking among league leaders in steals. The Dodgers, despite their loss, showcased Freeman’s consistency, with his .865 OPS among the team’s best.
This interleague clash highlighted the contrast between a contending Dodgers squad and an Orioles team developing young talent like Basallo, Holliday, and Henderson. Fans can follow the Orioles’ remaining games through the team’s official site as they aim to finish the season strong.
