By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
TORONTO — The Los Angeles Dodgers returned to Toronto with the same championship swagger—and even more firepower.
Dalton Rushing delivered a breakout performance Monday night, blasting two solo home runs to lead the Dodgers to a dominant 14-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in a rematch of the 2025 World Series.
The win reinforces Los Angeles’ early-season surge and serves as a reminder of the gap between the defending champions and a Toronto team searching for answers.
Rushing’s Breakout Performance
Rushing, one of the Dodgers’ emerging young talents, put together the best game of his career, finishing 4 for 4 at the plate. His two home runs—coming in back-to-back innings—highlighted a lineup that overwhelmed Blue Jays pitching from start to finish.
He opened his power display by driving the first pitch he saw from reliever Tommy Nance over the wall in the seventh inning. An inning later, he struck again, this time taking Spencer Miles deep.
Rushing also reached base after being hit by a pitch and later scored, capping a near-perfect night.
Power Surge Continues
The Dodgers’ offensive attack didn’t stop there.
Teoscar Hernández and Freddie Freeman each launched two-run home runs, while Shohei Ohtani added a solo shot—his third homer in the past four games.
Hernández finished 2 for 5 with a walk and four RBIs, continuing his strong stretch at the plate. Freeman contributed three RBIs, going 2 for 4 with a walk, including a towering 438-foot blast in the third inning.
Kyle Tucker scored three times and added an RBI, while Andy Pages chipped in with two hits, including a two-run double.
Altogether, Los Angeles piled up 17 hits, continuing an offensive explosion that saw the team score 31 runs in its previous series sweep in Washington.
Blue Jays Struggle on Both Sides
For Toronto, the night marked a continuation of a difficult stretch. The Blue Jays have now dropped five straight games, with pitching and consistency remaining key concerns.
Veteran right-hander Max Scherzer lasted just two innings in his start, allowing two runs on two hits while walking one and striking out two. The three-time Cy Young Award winner exited early, putting additional pressure on an already taxed bullpen.
Position player Tyler Heineman provided a rare bright spot, pitching a clean ninth inning and recording the team’s only 1-2-3 frame of the game.
Dodgers Stay in Control
On the mound, Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski delivered a steady performance in his first start of the season. He allowed one run on two hits over five innings to earn the win.
For Los Angeles, the victory was another statement: the defending champions remain one of baseball’s most complete teams, blending power, depth and pitching.
For Toronto, the rematch served as a reminder of unfinished business—and the work still ahead.