In the heart of hostile Fenway, under the lights that have witnessed more than a century of baseball drama, the Los Angeles Dodgers once again proved why they’re October-bound — even in July.
Led by a clutch two-run homer from Teoscar Hernández in the eighth inning and anchored by four scoreless frames from a lockdown bullpen, the Dodgers surged past the Boston Red Sox, 5–2, in the opener of their three-game series on Friday night.
It wasn’t flashy early. It didn’t need to be.
It was just classic Dodgers: poised, professional, and punishing when it mattered most.
The Dodgers wasted little time, getting on the board in the second inning after a leadoff double by Andy Pages, followed by a key RBI single from Tommy Edman. In the third, they cracked Boston starter Brayan Bello with a walk-loaded RBI from Hernández and a sacrifice fly by Pages, stretching the lead to 3–0.
But Boston wouldn’t go quietly. In the bottom of the third, Connor Wong doubled — his first extra-base hit of the season — and came around to score on Jarren Duran’s single. Alex Bregman added an RBI of his own, trimming the deficit to 3–2.
From there, both lineups stalled.
Until the eighth.
With one on and one out, Hernández stepped into the box. He didn’t miss. A no-doubt shot over the Green Monster silenced Fenway and sent the Dodgers’ dugout into a frenzy.
“I was just looking for something up,” Hernández said postgame. “I got it. And I made it count.”
Count it did. The Dodgers led 5–2. And they weren’t looking back.
Emmet Sheehan, making his return from Triple-A, showed nerves of steel. In five innings of work, he allowed just two runs on three hits with five strikeouts, showcasing the kind of growth the Dodgers’ rotation has been craving.
From there, Ryan Brasier, Daniel Hudson, and Blake Treinen each delivered clean innings, before 25-year-old Ben Casparius — in only his fifth MLB appearance — earned his first career save by inducing a game-ending groundout from Trevor Story.
“Casparius was nails,” manager Dave Roberts said. “We trusted him in a big moment, and he delivered like a veteran.”
Shohei Ohtani saw his five-game home run streak snapped, finishing 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
Freddie Freeman quietly extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
Boston’s Brayan Bello lasted just over five innings, walking two and striking out three in the loss.
The Dodgers improved to 58–42, while the Red Sox fell to 51–48, as the Wild Card race tightens.
For Los Angeles, this wasn’t just a victory — it was a statement. Winning at Fenway, especially with bullpen dominance and situational hitting, is the kind of performance that echoes in October. With injuries to key starters and an ever-rotating cast of relievers, the Dodgers are proving they don’t need perfection — they just need moments.
And Teoscar Hernández delivered one.
The Dodgers send Clayton Kershaw to the mound in Game 2 against Boston lefty Garrett Crochet, in what promises to be a high-profile pitching duel with playoff implications.
If Friday night was any indication, the Dodgers aren’t just surviving the East Coast.
They’re hunting.