Clement hits ninth-inning homer as Blue Jays hold on to beat Dodgers 5-4

Toronto Blue Jays' Ernie Clement runs the bases after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani led off the game with his 41st homer, but Ernie Clement hit the tiebreaking homer leading off the ninth inning, and the American League-leading Toronto Blue Jays hung on to avoid a series sweep with a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.

Mason Fluharty earned his first career save in spectacular fashion after replacing erratic Jays closer Jeff Hoffman in the ninth with the bases loaded and one out. The rookie left-hander struck out Ohtani with a full-count breaking ball before getting Mookie Betts on a game-ending grounder.

After Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a tying homer and Addison Barger followed with a go-ahead shot for Toronto off struggling Blake Treinen in the eighth inning, Clement hit the first pitch from Alex Vesia (2-2) in the ninth into the left-field bleachers.

Hoffman (7-4) walked Freddie Freeman with the bases loaded to blow Toronto’s lead in the eighth, and he walked three of the Dodgers’ first four batters in the ninth.

Ohtani drove Eric Lauer’s fourth pitch 400 feet. The three-time MVP’s third homer in four games tied him with Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber for the National League lead.

Freeman also homered in the first.

Ohtani had two hits and was intentionally walked twice.

The Dodgers’ bullpen wasted another strong start by Tyler Glasnow, who yielded two runs on four hits and four walks while pitching into the sixth and striking out eight. Glasnow’s winless streak stretched to 10 starts since March 31 despite his 1.82 ERA since coming off the injured list.

KEY MOMENT

Guerrero and Barger homered on juicy, belt-high sweepers from Treinen, while Clement put a great swing on a well-thrown low slider from Vesia.

KEY STAT

Ohtani, who only became an everyday leadoff hitter after joining the Dodgers last season, has already hit 23 career homers to start a game, including an MLB-leading 11 this season.

UP NEXT

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (10-7, 2.51 ERA) opens another Freeway Series for the Dodgers in Anaheim on Monday.

José Berríos (8-4, 3.89 ERA) takes the mound in Toronto against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Greg Beacham, The Associated Press