LOS ANGELES -- Filling the Shohei Ohtani-shaped hole in the Dodgers' lineup is no easy feat, but Tommy Edman has gotten the job done while stepping into the leadoff spot in the two-way superstar's stead the past three nights.
Edman did his best Ohtani impression on Saturday night, slugging a go-ahead three-run blast from the left-hand side to propel the Dodgers to a 6-5 win over the Nationals at Dodger Stadium.
The utility man put on his own version of a two-way show with a highlight-reel catch in the fifth inning, a leaping snag at the wall in left-center to take away extra bases from Daylen Lile.
“He's a heck of a ballplayer," manager Dave Roberts said. "You can put him anywhere on the diamond. Makes plays offensively. Takes good at-bats. Has the knack for the big hit. And he's playing his tail off.
"And obviously, when you don't have Shohei in there, to put Tommy in there and really still be productive, it's great.”
L.A. has won three straight games and will go for a sweep of Washington on Sunday night.
For three nights, the Dodgers have had to write out their lineups without their most fearsome hitter in his usual position atop the order while Ohtani recovers from several lingering health concerns. They were even more shorthanded on Saturday when Max Muncy (illness) and Dalton Rushing (right elbow discomfort) were scratched about two hours before first pitch.
The new-look Dodgers lineup got on the board in the first inning, taking advantage after Kyle Tucker grounded into what could have been an inning-ending double play that instead put runners on the corners with two outs. Teoscar Hernández and Hunter Feduccia followed with back-to-back RBI singles off Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli to put L.A. up, 2-0.
But after the first, Cavalli faced just one over the minimum through his final five innings, with Alex Freeland being the lone Dodger to reach base after singling in the fourth. Tyler Glasnow had to grind without his best stuff across six-plus innings, allowing four runs -- although it could have been more if not for Edman's grab in the fifth.
"I thought that was a homer, and he came up with it," Glasnow said. "It was one of the craziest catches I've ever seen. It was awesome."
Once the Nationals turned to their bullpen in the seventh, the Dodgers began to build a rally. Freeland drew a one-out walk, and Kiké Hernández singled with two outs. That flipped over the order for Edman, who drove a 2-1 slider from right-hander Clayton Beeter to deep right field to turn the tables on Washington.
It was Edman's sixth homer of the season, and his third batting left-handed. The switch-hitting Edman has said that it's rare for him to feel good from both sides at the plate at the same time, as has been the case for him lately.
No matter which side he's hitting from -- or where he is in the order -- Edman's approach remains the same each night.
"Regardless, I'm just trying to get on base," Edman said. "Have good, productive at-bats. Grind out some ABs. And if slug comes, it's not something I'm necessarily trying to do, just more trying to get on base than anything."
Edman may have been at the center of two momentum-shifting plays on Saturday night, but he cared more about the end result than his particular role in it.
"I'm just excited we got the win. Good, hard-fought win," Edman said. "A lot of intense moments in the game. A lot of big moments from a lot of guys, just anything we can do to win ballgames, it's especially important at this part of the year."
Even without Ohtani, the Dodgers' offense has shown some promising signs since September began. They have scored six or more runs in three of their five games this month; they only had six such games in the month of August.
With 20 games remaining in the regular season, the Dodgers' focus is on getting ready for the postseason. The National League West race is all but decided, as they lead Arizona by 10 1/2 games, but they're still playing for a first-round bye, currently leading the Braves by one game for the No. 2 seed in the NL.
The Dodgers' most meaningful games of the year are nearing, and their quality of play must reflect that going forward.
"It's time to go," Roberts said, "and I think our guys understand that."