Dodgers beat Giants; Hernandez, Conforto shine before Phillies showdown

The Los Angeles Dodgers kept their September charge alive this weekend. They closed out a series win over the rival San Francisco Giants, tightening their grip on the NL West race.

Tyler Glasnow pitched with determination, and the Dodgers lineup kept grinding out tough at-bats. Los Angeles has now won six of its last seven games.

As the regular season winds down, the Dodgers are sharpening their playoff form. They’re showing the kind of focused at-bats Dave Roberts has pushed for since Opening Day.

Glasnow Settles In After Shaky Start

Tyler Glasnow stumbled a bit early, struggling to find the zone. He worked from behind in counts at first, but then he found his groove.

Glasnow finished with 6 2/3 innings of one-run baseball. His steadiness on the mound gave the Dodgers’ offense room to breathe and take over.

Big-Time Support From the Dodgers’ Offense

The bats really showed up. Four Dodgers racked up at least three hits each — something they hadn’t pulled off since April 24.

This kind of game says a lot about how their approach at the plate has improved lately. Freeman pointed out after the game that they’re locked in on situational hitting — moving runners, making productive outs, and just keeping the pressure on pitchers.

Michael Conforto’s Breakthrough and Veteran Milestones

Michael Conforto put together one of his best games of the season, driving in three runs to tie his season high. He also nudged his batting average up to .200 for the first time since April 19, which meant a lot to him, even if it’s just a number on paper.

Freddie Freeman keeps piling up milestones. His double was the 547th of his career, tying Manny Ramirez for 33rd all-time.

It’s just more proof of Freeman’s steady presence and durability through the years.

Ohtani Adds Late Spark

The Dodgers didn’t let up late. Shohei Ohtani, always in the spotlight, chipped in with a bloop single in the ninth inning.

He came around to score his 135th run of the season, breaking his own Dodgers-era record. Another highlight for his already stacked 2024 resume.

NL West Standings and the Push for October

The win kept L.A. ahead by 2.5 games over the San Diego Padres in the division. Only 13 games remain, so every win feels bigger now.

Next up: a three-game set with the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies are close to clinching a first-round playoff bye, and Dave Roberts admits catching them for the No. 2 seed probably isn’t happening.

Still, the Dodgers have their eyes on building momentum for October. That’s what matters most right now.

Keys to Sustaining Success Down the Stretch

For Los Angeles to keep rolling into the postseason, they need to stick with the disciplined approach they showed against San Francisco.

Some critical factors stand out:

• The starting rotation has to keep dominating. Glasnow’s knack for working through early-game turbulence matters a ton.
• They’ve got to execute situational hitting—move runners over, cash in those chances with less than two outs. It sounds basic, but it’s huge.
• Bench players need to keep contributing. That steady pressure wears down pitchers and opposing defenses.
• Veterans like Freeman have to keep setting the tone, both in the clubhouse and on the field. That leadership just can’t be faked.

With the Phillies coming up and October right around the corner, the Dodgers don’t look like they’re planning to ease off the gas. Honestly, why would they?

 
Here is the source article for this story: Dodgers take series from SF as they ramp up for showdown with Phils