The Los Angeles Dodgers escaped Minnesota with a 2-1 victory over the Twins on Monday, June 22, 2026, with Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman each launching solo home runs to account for all the offense Los Angeles needed. In a tightly contested nine-inning game that came down to the final out, the Dodgers leaned on their two most dangerous hitters and a dominant six-inning gem from Eric Lauer to secure the narrow road win. It was the kind of low-margin, high-stakes game that prepares a team for October — every run mattered, and the Dodgers had just enough.

Ohtani and Freeman Power Dodgers Offense

This one was all about the long ball. Shohei Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and an RBI, providing the first punch in what would be a two-shot combination with Freddie Freeman. Freeman matched him stroke for stroke, also going 1-for-4 with a homer and an RBI. Those two blasts were the entirety of the Dodgers' scoring, a reminder that when the offense is quiet, Los Angeles has the kind of middle-of-the-order firepower to manufacture runs from thin air.

Tommy Edman and Alex Call kept the lineup from going completely quiet around the big boppers. Edman went 2-for-4, and Call reached twice in three at-bats with a pair of hits, giving the Dodgers some table-setting presence even if neither converted into runs. Against a stingy Twins pitching staff, those extra base runners at least kept Minnesota's bullpen working.

Eric Lauer Delivers a Gem in the Middle Innings

The real story on the mound was Eric Lauer, who earned the win with one of the more quietly impressive outings you'll see. Lauer threw six shutout innings, allowing zero hits while issuing three walks and striking out two. A no-hit performance through six frames against a Twins lineup that features Byron Buxton is not a small achievement. Lauer limited damage consistently, keeping Minnesota off the board entirely through the middle of the game and giving the Dodgers bullpen a manageable situation to close out.

Will Klein opened the game and ran into early trouble, allowing two earned runs on two hits and a walk over just one inning of work — which is precisely why Lauer's performance was so critical. Kyle Hurt and Tanner Scott finished it off, with Scott locking down the ninth inning on a perfect frame to earn the save. Zero hits, zero runs, zero drama in the ninth from Scott. That's exactly what you want from your closer.

Byron Buxton Keeps It Interesting for Minnesota

The Twins didn't go quietly. Byron Buxton went 1-for-4 but made his lone hit count, launching a solo home run that trimmed the Dodgers' lead to 2-1 and kept Target Field tense through the final innings. Zebby Matthews took the loss despite a respectable outing — six innings, six hits, two earned runs, five strikeouts, and two walks. He kept the Dodgers' lineup mostly in check outside of those two home run pitches, but in a 2-1 ballgame, that's the margin.

Turning Point: Freeman's Home Run

If there was a single moment that swung this game, it was Freddie Freeman's home run. With the Dodgers needing insurance against a Twins lineup capable of exploding at any moment, Freeman's blast provided a critical second run that ultimately proved to be the difference. Without it, Buxton's solo shot ties the game. With it, Los Angeles had just enough cushion to hold on.

What's Next for the Dodgers

  • The Dodgers continue their road schedule following Monday's win over Minnesota.
  • Ohtani and Freeman are both locked in at the plate — two home runs apiece in this one is a good sign heading deeper into the summer.
  • Eric Lauer's six scoreless innings with no hits allowed is a performance worth monitoring as the rotation picture continues to develop.
  • Tanner Scott looks sharp in the closer role, retiring the side in order in the ninth to lock down the save.

A 2-1 road win is never pretty, but the Dodgers found a way. Ohtani and Freeman doing the heavy lifting, Lauer shutting down Minnesota through six, and Scott slamming the door — that's a winning formula that should travel well into the stretch run.