Dodgers Slug Their Way to 8-4 Win Over Rangers in Spring Training

On March 6, 2025, the Los Angeles Dodgers continued their strong spring training run, defeating the Texas Rangers 8-4 at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona. The Dodgers’ offense erupted for three home runs, while their pitching staff, led by Dustin May, held firm to secure the victory in this Cactus League matchup.

The game kicked off with an early spark from Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, who batted leadoff as the designated hitter. In the first inning, Ohtani laced a double off Rangers starter David Buchanan and came around to score the game’s opening run on a subsequent Texas error, giving Los Angeles a 1-0 lead. Ohtani’s hit set the tone for a potent offensive day, though he finished 1-for-3 as the Rangers tightened up against him later.

Texas responded in the bottom of the first, taking a 2-1 lead against May. The Rangers capitalized on a pair of hits, including a two-run single, to jump ahead. May, making his second start of the spring as he works back from injury, settled in after the shaky start. He tossed three innings, allowing two runs on one hit with two walks and three strikeouts, earning the win and showing encouraging signs of progress.

The Dodgers’ bats took over in the third, reclaiming the lead with a power display. Will Smith crushed his first home run of the spring off Buchanan, a solo shot that tied the game at 2-2. Later in the inning, Tommy Edman, acquired by the Dodgers in a midseason trade last year, launched his second homer of the spring, a two-run blast that put Los Angeles ahead 4-2. Edman’s hot spring continued, reinforcing his versatility and value to the lineup.

Texas fought back in the fourth, narrowing the gap to 4-3 with an unearned run off May, aided by a Dodgers error. However, Los Angeles pulled away in the fifth against Rangers reliever Cole Hoyer. Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers’ All-Star first baseman, hammered a solo home run—his third of the spring—extending the lead to 5-3. Freeman’s blast underscored his locked-in approach early in the preseason.

The Dodgers added breathing room in the seventh. Nabil Ahmed, a minor league infielder, delivered a solo homer off Texas reliever Triston Polley, making it 6-3. Later, a two-run rally in the eighth—details of which were not fully specified in available sources but confirmed via X posts—pushed the score to 8-3, putting the game out of reach.

The Rangers scratched across a lone run in the eighth off Dodgers reliever Tim Scott, trimming the deficit to 8-4. However, Los Angeles’ bullpen, featuring veterans Kirby Yates and Blake Treinen alongside prospect Jackson Ferris, closed the door. Ferris impressed with two innings, allowing three hits but striking out five without a walk, showcasing his potential as a rising arm in the organization.

For Texas, Buchanan took the loss, surrendering four runs over his outing, while the offense managed just four runs despite contributions from Ezequiel Duran and others. The Rangers’ pitching staff struggled to contain the Dodgers’ power, a recurring theme in their early spring setbacks.
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Standouts for Los Angeles included Smith, Edman, and Freeman with their home runs, Ohtani’s early spark, and May’s solid start. The Dodgers’ 8-4 win on March 6, 2025, improved their spring record to a gaudy 7-0, reflecting their depth and star power even in exhibition play. Texas, meanwhile, will look to regroup after falling to 2-5 in the Cactus League.