Dalton Rushing spent most of Friday night in visible frustration, but he ended it with the biggest swing of his big league career. With the Dodgers down to their final out, he delivered a two-run, game-ending moment that sealed a 6-5 walk-off win over the Orioles at Dodger Stadium.
The first four trips to the plate brought little relief for the second-year catcher. But when the game was on the line, Rushing reset, stayed in the at-bat, and sent a line-drive single to right field that brought home the tying run before a throwing error allowed the winning run to score.
Rushing’s first career walk-off
It was Rushing’s first walk-off hit in the majors, and the reaction around him made the moment even bigger. His teammates mobbed him after the play, and the mood changed instantly from frustration to celebration.
“You’re in that moment right there,” Rushing said. “Nothing that’s happened the first four at-bats, three at-bats, however many you had before, none of it matters.”
Manager Dave Roberts said the key was how Rushing handled the failure before the final swing. “You strike out three times, you line out your first at-bat, you’re frustrated, you’re trying to stay in the game, calling games,” Roberts said. “And then the game’s on the line, and it’s your spot. And so for him to flush it all and to flip his entire game and help us win a ballgame was huge.”
How the Dodgers let it get away
The Dodgers opened with early control behind Roki Sasaki, who was sharp while the offense built a quick lead. Max Muncy drove in two runs with a single in the first inning, and Andy Pages added an RBI double in the second.
That cushion faded as the game went on. The Dodgers loaded the bases with nobody out in the third, only to see Ryan Ward, Rushing and Alex Freeland strike out swinging in order.
After the Orioles tied it with back-to-back homers in the sixth and later moved ahead on a two-run single in the seventh, the Dodgers still had one final chance in the ninth.
The ninth-inning reset
Mookie Betts cut the deficit to one with a home run to lead off the bottom of the ninth, then Muncy and Ward drew walks to put two runners on for Rushing with two outs. Rushing then took a called strike and chased a slider in the dirt before stepping out and gathering himself.
He said Betts gave him a look of encouragement from the dugout, which helped him clear his head and simplify the moment. “It was just kind of a reset,” Rushing said. “It’s one of those moments where you kind of have to take a second, step away and just go back to basic baseball.”
Rushing was looking for a slider, but he got a 1-2 fastball he could drive. Once the ball reached the outfield grass, he knew the Dodgers had at least tied the game, and the rest unfolded after the throw home got away.
What it means for Rushing
With Will Smith still on the injured list longer than expected because of neck stiffness, Rushing has taken over the starting catching duties. The second-year backstop has cooled after a hot April, but his growth both at the plate and behind it has remained a point of focus for the Dodgers.
Roberts said the next step is learning to let the game come to him and slow things down. On this night, after carrying visible frustration through the early innings, Rushing did exactly that when the Dodgers needed it most.