Los Angeles Dodgers Edge Kansas City Royals in Thrilling One-Run Game to Secure Fifth Consecutive Victory and Extend Hot Winning Streak
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been one of Major League Baseball’s most consistently dominant teams over the past decade, and on Friday night, they added yet another chapter to their 2025 season narrative. In a tightly contested matchup that came down to the wire, the Dodgers defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-4 at Dodger Stadium, pushing their current winning streak to five games. The game had all the elements of postseason intensity — clutch hitting, pivotal pitching decisions, dramatic fielding moments, and high-stakes pressure that left fans on the edge of their seats.
From the first pitch, it was evident that both teams had come prepared for a battle. Kansas City, sitting in the lower half of the American League standings, entered the game as the underdog. But the Royals played with resilience and heart, threatening to upset one of baseball’s premier rosters. The Dodgers, meanwhile, have been red-hot throughout June, surging up the standings and reclaiming their spot as National League West frontrunners.
Starting on the mound for the Dodgers was right-hander Bobby Miller, who has quickly become one of the most reliable arms in Los Angeles’ rotation. Miller pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out seven and walking one. While not his sharpest outing of the season, Miller did enough to keep the Dodgers competitive through the early frames, limiting Kansas City’s opportunities to blow the game open.
Kansas City countered with young left-hander Kris Bubic, who was making his return from injury and a stint in the minors. Bubic looked strong early, utilizing his off-speed pitches to keep Dodgers hitters off-balance. Through four innings, he held Los Angeles to just two runs — a solo home run by Max Muncy in the second inning and a sacrifice fly from Will Smith in the fourth.
The Royals took an early lead in the top of the third, stringing together a pair of singles and a clutch two-run double by Vinnie Pasquantino. Pasquantino, one of the few bright spots in an otherwise struggling Kansas City offense, continued to show why he’s considered a building block for the franchise’s future. In the fifth inning, the Royals extended their lead to 3-2 when MJ Melendez lined a fastball into the right-field corner for an RBI double.
But the Dodgers, as they’ve done so many times this season, responded with poise and power. In the bottom of the sixth, they capitalized on a rare fielding error by Kansas City’s second baseman. With two outs and a runner on, Mookie Betts delivered a perfectly timed two-run triple into the left-center gap, igniting the home crowd and giving Los Angeles a 4-3 lead. The energy at Dodger Stadium shifted instantly, and the momentum clearly swung in favor of the home team.
The next inning saw Freddie Freeman tack on an insurance run with an RBI single, bringing the score to 5-3. Freeman, who’s having another All-Star caliber season, has been the engine behind the Dodgers’ offense, providing leadership, timely hits, and Gold Glove defense at first base. His hit would ultimately prove to be the game-winner, though the Royals wouldn’t go quietly.
In the top of the eighth, Kansas City mounted one last push. Facing Dodgers setup man Brusdar Graterol, the Royals loaded the bases with one out. Manager Dave Roberts turned to veteran reliever Daniel Hudson to escape the jam. Hudson promptly struck out Bobby Witt Jr. with a devastating cutter on the outside corner, but then walked in a run on a full count, shrinking the Dodgers’ lead to 5-4.
With the bases still loaded, Hudson bore down and got Salvador Perez to fly out deep to center field. James Outman, manning center field for Los Angeles, made a running catch just shy of the warning track to end the inning, preserving the Dodgers’ narrow advantage.
In the ninth, Evan Phillips took the mound for the save opportunity. The Dodgers’ closer has been lights out this season, and once again, he delivered. After retiring the first batter with a groundout, Phillips allowed a single up the middle, bringing the potential go-ahead run to the plate. But he quickly induced a double play ground ball to shortstop Gavin Lux, who flipped it to Betts and over to Freeman to end the game.
The win marks the Dodgers’ fifth straight and improves their record to 48-29, putting them firmly in control of the NL West and on pace for yet another 100-win season. For Kansas City, the loss is another tough pill to swallow in what’s been a rebuilding year. Still, the Royals showed grit and gave the Dodgers a real challenge — something not every team has been able to do during this hot streak.
Manager Dave Roberts praised his team’s ability to grind out the victory.
“These are the kind of games you need to win if you’re serious about playing deep into October,” Roberts said postgame. “We didn’t have our best stuff across the board, but guys stepped up in big moments. That’s what championship-caliber teams do.”
Freddie Freeman echoed the sentiment in the locker room. “You’re not going to blow out every opponent. It’s games like this where you learn a lot about your team — how we respond, how we fight, how we stay focused. This group knows how to win close games.”
Mookie Betts, whose sixth-inning triple swung the game’s momentum, credited the team’s collective mindset.
“We never panic,” Betts said. “Even when we’re down, we believe someone’s going to come through. Tonight it was me. Tomorrow, it’ll be someone else. That’s what makes us dangerous.”
With the trade deadline approaching, the Dodgers continue to be mentioned in rumors as potential buyers. While they already boast one of the most complete rosters in baseball, injuries have tested their depth, particularly in the bullpen and outfield. The front office has shown in years past that they’re not shy about pulling the trigger on bold moves, and with October in their sights, reinforcements could be coming.
Meanwhile, the Royals will look to regroup. Though wins have been hard to come by, they’ve seen encouraging performances from young players like Pasquantino, Melendez, and Witt Jr., all of whom factor into the team’s long-term plans. Manager Matt Quatraro remains focused on development and finding positives in tough losses.
“You can’t question the heart these guys showed tonight,” Quatraro said. “We went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the league and had a real shot. We’ll build off that.”
The Dodgers will wrap up the series with the Royals over the weekend before heading into a tough stretch that includes matchups with the Phillies, Braves, and Mets. It will be a critical test of their momentum, stamina, and ability to maintain consistency as the All-Star break looms.
For now, however, the focus remains on continuing this impressive run. With stars like Betts, Freeman, and Smith firing on all cylinders, a steady rotation anchored by Miller and Tyler Glasnow, and a bullpen full of power arms, the Dodgers look poised to make yet another deep postseason push. The win over Kansas City may not have been the cleanest or most dominant, but it was another example of why this team remains one of the most feared in all of baseball.
As the season heats up, so too do the Dodgers — one win at a time.
