LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani didn’t launch a homer or deliver any jaw-dropping plays, yet his bat still made an unforgettable statement in his debut at the plate. Meanwhile, Max Muncy, once booed by fans just weeks ago, turned in the performance of a lifetime. Hyesong Kim, a quiet free-agent acquisition who barely stirred the crowd, finally revealed the potential the Dodgers saw in him. And Freddie Freeman, quickly earning a reputation as the Yankees’ nightmare, worked his magic once again.
By night’s end, the Dodgers hammered the New York Yankees 18-2 in front of 51,746 roaring fans, making it feel like October had returned to Los Angeles. This brutal beatdown was the Yankees’ worst loss since 2019 and their heaviest margin of defeat in 16 years.
“It was definitely a statement,” Muncy said after his two homers and career-best seven RBIs. “Doing this without Mookie [Betts] out injured makes it even more special. Everyone had to step up, and the guys really did.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, celebrating his 53rd birthday, kept his cool despite the crushing win but acknowledged the momentum gained from consecutive victories over the Yankees. “Beating those guys always feels good,” Roberts said. “They’re the elite of the American League. Taking them down back-to-back? That’s something special.”
What’s truly intimidating for opponents is the Dodgers’ resilience. Despite carrying 14 pitchers on the injured list, with Betts sidelined due to a broken toe and Ohtani not expected to pitch again until after the All-Star break, they still dismantled the Yankees twice in a row. Over the past 13 innings, they outscored the Bronx Bombers 24-2, shutting down all but Aaron Judge, who has blasted three homers this series.
“These last few weeks have been tough with everything going on,” Roberts said. “But when you face the Yankees and the fans get hyped, it injects energy into the clubhouse. The guys showed up and gave the fans what they wanted. It felt like a playoff atmosphere.”
Having knocked the Yankees off in last year’s World Series, many wonder if this recent spanking sends a strong message.
Roberts demurs: “I wouldn’t call it a statement. They’re a great team. I’m just pleased with how we’re playing and approaching the game. We’d been mediocre for a bit, so maybe it took a club like the Yankees to snap us out of it and raise our game.”
Offensively, the Dodgers have been a force since late April, racking up 240 runs—51 more than any other team—and averaging nearly seven runs per game. Ohtani tied a franchise record with 15 homers in May alone. Kim, who started the year in the minors, reached base in every plate appearance Saturday, racking up two singles, a double, a homer, and a walk. Muncy’s turnaround is nothing short of remarkable: after hitting just .190 with one homer before May 14, he’s since batted .298 with a 1.048 OPS, including four homers and 22 RBIs.
“Max had a rough start, but he’s been relentless,” Roberts said. “He’s faced criticism head-on and keeps showing up every day to help us win.”
Then there’s Freeman, sitting atop the National League with a .374 average and a 1.078 OPS. A year ago, he flipped the World Series on its head with a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning, earning MVP honors after hitting .300 with four homers and 12 RBIs.
Now, Freeman is back for an encore. Going 2-for-3 with an RBI and knocking his 525th career double, he tied legends Willie Mays and Ted Williams for 46th on the all-time list. His dominance against the Yankees is staggering—.407 average with four homers, three doubles, a triple, and 14 RBIs over his last seven games.
Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt praised Freeman’s skill. “He handles everything in the zone, fastballs, off-speed—he’s always in position to hit. That’s why he’s one of the best hitters around and has been for over a decade. He’s a true professional.”
Freeman’s excellence is a big reason the Dodgers have captured two World Series titles in five years and claimed 11 division crowns in 12 seasons.
Muncy, honored after hitting his 200th career homer, reflected on the clubhouse’s talent. “This group never stops amazing me. You can look all through the lineup and see guys working as hard as rookies. That kind of effort rubs off on everyone.”
Even rookie Dalton Rushing got in on the magic, smashing his first career homer Saturday, thanks in part to Ohtani’s bat. After Ohtani left the game and retreated to the clubhouse, Rushing grabbed one of his bats, wondering if it carried the same MVP mojo.
On the very first pitch from infielder Pablo Reyes, Rushing swung hard, sending the ball 393 feet over the right-field fence.
“He hits a lot of home runs, so maybe it works for others, too,” Rushing joked.
With this blend of rising stars and established legends, the Dodgers look poised to keep making headlines—and striking fear into the heart of the Yankees.
