Dodgers Rally from Five-Run Deficit to Sweep Nationals
The Los Angeles Dodgers demonstrated their resilience on Sunday, April 5, 2026, overcoming a significant early deficit to defeat the Washington Nationals 8-6. The victory capped off a three-game sweep of the Nationals, highlighted by a powerhouse performance from Shohei Ohtani and a dramatic eighth-inning surge.
Key Takeaways
- Final Score: Los Angeles Dodgers 8, Washington Nationals 6.
- The Turnaround: Los Angeles erased a five-run deficit to secure the win.
- Star Power: Shohei Ohtani contributed a home run and a go-ahead sacrifice fly.
- Series Result: The Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of Washington.
Ohtani Leads the Charge
Shohei Ohtani continued his dominance against Washington, finishing the day 2-for-4. He opened the scoring for Los Angeles in the third inning with a line-drive solo home run to center field off Nationals starter Foster Griffin. This blast was the only run the Dodgers managed against Griffin, who struck out six batters over five innings of work.
Ohtani’s impact extended beyond the home run; he hit a crucial go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth inning that scored Santiago Espinal, giving the Dodgers a 7-6 lead. Ohtani finished the series with six hits in 15 at-bats, including two home runs and six RBI. Since joining the Dodgers, Ohtani has proven to be a nightmare for Washington, recording 17 RBI in 17 games against the franchise, according to ESPN.
Washington’s Early Lead and Sasaki’s Struggles
The Nationals appeared to be in control for much of the game. Luis García Jr. Launched a two-run home run in the third inning, and James Wood broke a 1-for-16 slump with a three-run shot in the fourth, pushing the Washington lead to 6-1.
Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki struggled to contain the Nationals’ offense, allowing six runs across five innings. Whereas Sasaki managed to record five strikeouts, including a strikeout of Joey Wiemer, he was unable to prevent the early onslaught, as noted in the MLB Game Story.
The Eighth-Inning Comeback
The momentum shifted violently in the eighth inning. The Dodgers loaded the bases against Cionel Perez, who ultimately took the loss after Santiago Espinal laced a two-run single to left-center. After Perez was pulled, Clayton Beeter surrendered an RBI fielder’s choice to Kyle Tucker, tying the game at 6-6 before Ohtani’s sacrifice fly reclaimed the lead.
Additional power from Teoscar Hernández and Dalton Rushing—who hit a two-run home run off PJ Poulin—helped fuel the offensive explosion. Jack Dreyer provided stability by pitching a scoreless seventh inning, and Edwin Diaz closed out the ninth to earn his third save of the season.
Roster Updates and Game Conditions
The game faced a delay of over two hours due to rain before finally getting underway. The Dodgers played without shortstop Mookie Betts, who has been placed on the injured list with a right oblique strain.
What’s Next
The Dodgers look to maintain their momentum as they move forward. The next matchup will feature Justin Wrobleski (0-0, 6.75 ERA) on the mound for Los Angeles, facing off against Max Scherzer (1-0, 1.00 ERA) for the Nationals.