In a thrilling NL West showdown, the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers delivered back-to-back nights of memorable baseball at Dodger Stadium, spotlighting the emergence of Giants' infielder Casey Schmitt and the enduring prowess of Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw.
On June 13, 2025, the Giants edged the Dodgers 6-2 in the series opener, powered by a landmark performance from Casey Schmitt. The 26-year-old infielder hit his first career grand slam, a towering 423-foot blast to left-center off Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, breaking a 1-1 tie in the third inning. Schmitt's grand slam came after a series of walks loaded the bases, showcasing his clutch hitting under pressure. Giants starter Logan Webb delivered a strong outing, pitching seven innings of two-hit ball, allowing only two runs, and striking out four. Webb’s performance marked his first win since May 16, helping the Giants assert early dominance against their division rivals.
Yamamoto, who entered the game with a 2.20 ERA and had allowed home runs in just four of his 13 starts, struggled on this night. He gave up five runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings, walking a season-high five batters. The Dodgers managed to score in the second inning on a fielder’s choice and sacrifice fly, and Teoscar Hernández added a homer in the seventh, but the Giants’ offense was too potent. Willy Adames homered for the Giants in the first inning, while Andrew Knizer recorded his first hit and homer of the season in the eighth, contributing to the Giants’ 10-hit attack. Dominic Smith led the charge with three hits, underscoring the team’s balanced offensive effort.
Schmitt’s rise has been a bright spot for the Giants, especially after missing a month earlier this season due to an oblique injury. Since Matt Chapman’s placement on the injured list, Schmitt has taken over third base duties and is proving his versatility with eligibility at first, second, third base, and shortstop. His recent surge includes a hit in each of his last four games and both of his home runs this season coming during this span. Schmitt’s stats through these games show a slash line of .232/.329/.406 over 80 plate appearances, with three homers, 14 RBIs, six runs scored, and three doubles.
The excitement didn’t stop there. On June 14, 2025, the Dodgers rebounded emphatically with an 11-5 victory over the Giants, fueled by a potent offensive outburst. Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw, at 37, showed flashes reminiscent of his prime, striking out five batters and moving within 12 strikeouts of the 3,000 career milestone—a feat achieved by only 19 pitchers in baseball history. Kershaw’s efficient seven-inning performance included allowing just three hits and one walk while throwing 81 pitches, 56 of which were strikes.
In stark contrast, Giants starter Landen Roupp struggled mightily. After giving up a leadoff homer to Shohei Ohtani, Roupp faced a relentless Dodgers lineup that sent 10 batters to the plate in the second inning, scoring seven runs and forcing Roupp’s exit after just 1 2/3 innings. Roupp threw 45 pitches, with only 21 strikes, and walked five batters, including an intentional walk to Ohtani. Despite a strong 1.27 ERA over his previous five starts, Roupp was unable to find the strike zone or contain the Dodgers’ offense, which punished him consistently.
The Dodgers’ offensive fireworks continued throughout the game. Ohtani hit his 24th and 25th home runs of the season, while Teoscar Hernández and Miguel Rojas also contributed homers. The Dodgers tallied 11 runs on 11 hits and 10 walks, showcasing a balanced and aggressive attack. After Roupp’s early exit, relievers Spencer Bivens and Tristan Beck tried to stem the tide, but the damage was done. Beck surrendered a two-run homer to Hernández, and in a rare move, backup catcher Logan Porter was called on to pitch in the eighth inning. Porter, who had never pitched professionally, gave up a solo homer to Rojas, further compounding the Giants’ woes.
Despite the loss, Casey Schmitt made history by hitting his second grand slam in as many nights during the ninth inning off Dodgers position player Kiké Hernández, becoming the first Giants player to hit grand slams in back-to-back games. This feat echoes the historic back-to-back grand slams hit by Travis Jackson in 1924 and Mike Piazza at Dodger Stadium in 1998. Schmitt’s second slam came in a blowout, off an eephus pitch, but it still added to his remarkable recent power surge, with all three of his homers coming in the last five games.
After the game, Schmitt humbly remarked, “That’s cool. I don’t know — we lost, so it’s not really as cool as I guess it would be.” Giants manager Bob Melvin acknowledged the unusual pitching decisions late in the game, noting, “I don’t know. I don’t run that, they do what they do. I pitched a position player too, but I’ve never done it in an up game.”
The Dodgers’ victory on June 14 snapped a tie at the top of the NL West, placing Los Angeles in sole possession of first place in the division. The series finale on June 15 promises to be a pivotal contest, with Giants’ Kyle Harrison set to start against Dodgers’ Dustin May. Both teams will be eager to claim the series win in this fiercely competitive rivalry.
Throughout this intense two-game stretch, the Giants showcased emerging talent and resilience, while the Dodgers demonstrated veteran leadership and offensive firepower. Casey Schmitt’s back-to-back grand slams have injected fresh energy into the Giants’ lineup, hinting at a promising future for the versatile infielder. Meanwhile, Clayton Kershaw’s steady dominance reminds fans why he remains one of the game’s all-time greats.
As the NL West race heats up, these matchups between the Giants and Dodgers continue to deliver drama, historic moments, and high-level competition. Fans can look forward to more thrilling baseball as both teams battle for supremacy in one of baseball’s most storied rivalries.
