On Saturday night, September 5, 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers staged a dramatic comeback to defeat the Washington Nationals 6-5 at Dodger Stadium. The final score — Dodgers 6, Nationals 5 — capped a back-and-forth battle that kept a crowd of 52,351 on the edge of their seats for 2 hours and 53 minutes.
This Washington Nationals vs Los Angeles Dodgers matchup delivered pure September baseball drama. The Dodgers improved to 85-57 while the Nationals fell to 67-77. Shohei Ohtani was sidelined, yet Los Angeles found heroes in unexpected places.
Early Lead for the Dodgers
The Dodgers jumped ahead in the bottom of the first inning. Freddie Freeman was hit by a pitch, Mookie Betts singled, and Teoscar Hernández delivered an RBI single. Hunter Feduccia followed with another RBI single, giving Los Angeles a quick 2-0 lead against Nationals starter Cade Cavalli.
Washington answered in the second. CJ Abrams scored on a sacrifice fly from José Tena, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
Nationals Seize the Lead
The visitors took control in the fourth. Keibert Ruiz, facing his former team, punched an RBI single. Dylan Crews then ripped a run-scoring double, putting the Nationals ahead 3-2. Ruiz had recently returned after being hit in the mask by a foul ball, and his contribution proved timely.
Cade Cavalli settled in after the rocky first inning. The right-hander worked six innings, allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out eight. He retired 15 of the final 16 batters he faced, giving Washington a real chance to steal a win on the road.
Daylen Lile extended the Nationals’ advantage in the seventh with an RBI double off Alex Vesia, making it 4-2.
Tommy Edman’s Go-Ahead Blast
The seventh inning turned the game. With two outs and runners on base against reliever Clayton Beeter, Tommy Edman stepped in from Ohtani’s usual leadoff spot. He crushed a 2-1 slider into the right-field seats for a three-run home run — his sixth of the season. The blast scored Alex Freeland and Enrique Hernández and flipped the score to 5-4 in favor of the Dodgers.
Los Angeles added an insurance run in the eighth when Alex Call was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, pushing the lead to 6-4.
In the ninth, the Nationals refused to go quietly. Daylen Lile singled home James Wood to make it 6-5. Tanner Scott then closed the door for his 21st save of the season. Alex Vesia earned the win (2-1), while Clayton Beeter took the loss (5-5).
Standout Performances
- Tommy Edman: The three-run homer was the decisive moment. He also contributed defensively throughout the night.
- Teoscar Hernández: Early RBI single and solid presence in the middle of the order while filling the designated-hitter role.
- Daylen Lile: Two RBIs, including the late-game single that made the final inning tense.
- Dylan Crews and Keibert Ruiz: Key hits that briefly put Washington in front.
- Cade Cavalli: Strong recovery outing that kept the Nationals competitive deep into the game.
The Dodgers collected seven hits to the Nationals’ 10. Neither side committed an error.
Series and Standings Context
This victory was part of a strong stretch for the Dodgers, who continued their dominance over the Nationals in recent meetings. Los Angeles remained firmly in first place in the National League West. The Nationals, meanwhile, continued to struggle on the road and sat near the bottom of the NL East.
Ohtani’s status remained uncertain heading into the series finale, with the possibility of a trip to the injured list still open at the time.
Why This Game Mattered
September baseball often turns on single moments. Edman’s three-run shot in the seventh provided exactly that kind of momentum swing. For Dodgers fans, it was another night of resilience without their two-way superstar. For Nationals supporters, it was another close loss in a difficult season — one in which young talent like Crews, Lile, Abrams, and Cavalli continued to show flashes of promise.
The final score of Dodgers 6–5 Nationals on September 5, 2026, will be remembered as a classic Dodger Stadium thriller: early lead, mid-game reversal, late drama, and a hard-earned win for the home team.
Fans looking for the full box score, play-by-play, or highlights can find detailed records on major baseball sites. This game added another chapter to the long rivalry between these two clubs and kept the Dodgers rolling toward the postseason.