If baseball fans were looking for drama in the rubber match between the Dodgers and Twins, Wednesday afternoon delivered—complete with late-inning fireworks, controversial calls, and a walk-off that had everyone talking.
Let’s unpack how it all went down.
Heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Minnesota Twins were holding tight to a 3-2 lead, poised to steal the series from the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Griffin Jax looked in command, needing just one more out to close the door. He nearly had it—Mookie Betts was down to his final strike. Then came the play everyone’s still buzzing about: Betts chopped an infield single on a two-strike pitch that easily could’ve been called strike three. The umpires ruled Betts held up his swing; no punchout, no series for the Twins—at least not yet.
That’s where things kicked into high gear. Next up, Shohei Ohtani, the man you least want to see in this spot if you’re a pitcher. The Twins weren’t taking any chances—they issued an intentional walk to the slugger. Jax then walked Esteury Ruiz, suddenly loading the bases for Freddie Freeman. Freeman, always steady in clutch moments, delivered—a single to left sealed the 4-3 comeback win and snapped the Dodgers’ recent slide in the most Dodger way possible.
But that controversial no-call on Betts’ checked swing has fans in an uproar. Social media lit up with accusations of umpiring bias and conspiracy theories, with some fans openly accusing the officials of tilting the game for L.A. It’s the sort of call that isn’t subject to video review in the majors, similar to pass interference rulings in football—once called, there’s no turning back. That only amplified the frustration among Twins fans, who felt their team got the short end of the stick just as they were about to secure the series.
Let’s be clear—Dodger fans know just how big a lift this walk-off was. After dropping seven straight before the All-Star break, then getting swept at home by the Brewers coming out of it, Los Angeles was in desperate need of a spark. Splitting the first two games with Minnesota didn’t do much to calm the nerves. This win, in this fashion, isn’t just one for the highlight reel—it’s the kind of confidence booster that carries a team on a long road trip. Next up: a challenging nine-game swing starting in Boston against the Red Sox.
In the dog days of summer, you take wins how you can get them. For the Dodgers, Wednesday’s comeback was both controversial and crucial, a moment that—love it or hate it—will keep fans and pundits talking right into the next road series.
