HOUSTON, TX – July 5, 2025
In a game crackling with the tension and animosity that has defined their modern rivalry, the Houston Astros mounted a stunning late-game comeback, capped by an Alex Bregman bases-clearing double, to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 in a thriller Tuesday night.
Before a sold-out and raucous crowd at Minute Maid Park, the contest felt like a heavyweight bout, with every pitch carrying the weight of the contentious history between the two clubs. For seven innings, it appeared the Dodgers had the upper hand, but a dramatic four-run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning flipped the script and sent the Houston faithful into a frenzy.
Early Lead and Dominance from Glasnow
The Dodgers had built a 3-0 lead on the back of a powerful start from their ace, Tyler Glasnow, and timely hitting from the top of their lineup. Mookie Betts silenced the booing crowd early with a solo home run in the third inning, and Freddie Freeman added a two-run single in the fifth to extend the lead. Glasnow was dominant, holding the Astros' potent offense scoreless through six innings with a blistering fastball and sharp breaking pitches.
The atmosphere remained hostile and charged, with every Dodgers player, particularly those from the 2017 team, greeted with a chorus of boos each time they stepped to the plate—a stark reminder of the sign-stealing scandal that has permanently linked these two franchises.
The Astros’ Late-Inning Surge
The game’s turning point came in the bottom of the eighth against the Dodgers' bullpen. After a leadoff walk to Jose Altuve and a single by Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker worked another walk to load the bases, bringing Alex Bregman to the plate. With the crowd on its feet, Bregman lashed a 2-1 pitch from Dodgers setup man Evan Phillips into the left-center field gap, clearing the bases and giving the Astros their first lead of the night at 4-3.
"That's what you live for," Bregman said in a post-game interview. "Bases loaded, game on the line, against them... you just try to put the barrel on the ball. This crowd was electric tonight; they carried us."
Closing It Out
Astros closer Ryan Pressly entered in the ninth and shut the door with a perfect inning, striking out Shohei Ohtani to end the game and seal a signature victory for Houston.
"This team never quits," said Astros manager Joe Espada. "We were down, their guy was dealing, but we hung in there. That one inning is all it takes. That was a huge hit from Alex, one of the biggest of our season so far."
A Bitter Loss for the Dodgers
For the Dodgers, it was a bitter pill to swallow. "We let that one get away," said a frustrated Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "You have a three-run lead in the eighth, you expect to win that game. Credit to them, they got the big hit when it mattered. We have to be better tomorrow."
The victory not only gives the Astros a crucial win but also adds another memorable and contentious chapter to one of baseball’s fiercest rivalries. The series continues tomorrow, with tensions all but guaranteed to run high once again.
Related Questions and Answers
Q: What changed in the game’s momentum?
A: The Astros mounted a four-run rally in the bottom of the eighth, capped by Bregman’s bases-clearing double, turning a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 lead.
Q: How did Tyler Glasnow perform during the game?
A: Glasnow was dominant, holding the Astros scoreless through six innings with a combination of fastballs and breaking pitches.
Q: How did Alex Bregman handle the pressure in the eighth inning?
A: Bregman stepped up with a clutch double, clearing the bases to give the Astros their first lead of the game.
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