Wilson Leads Athletics Offense to Rout of Dodgers

Jacob Wilson and Lawrence Butler of the Athletics celebrate Jacob's homer against the Dodgers

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

May 13, 2025

Athletics 11, Dodgers 1

LOS ANGELES (May 13) — Jacob Wilson’s homecoming could not have gone much better, as the Southern California native went 4-for-5 with two homers, leading the Athletics to an 11–1 blowout victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.

Athletics – Dodgers Game Summary

The Athletics opened the scoring in the top of the third on a two-run homer by Jacob Wilson. In the bottom half, the Dodgers got a run back when Mookie Betts scored on a soft ground ball to shortstop. Wilson, playing shortstop, had an error on the play, but the run would have scored regardless.

More scoring came in the top of the fifth, when the Athletics scored four runs. Wilson hit his second two-run homer of the game, a one-out shot to left-center, to make the score 4–1. A two-run Lawrence Butler double with two outs increased the Athletics lead to 6–1. On the play, catcher Shea Langeliers scored from first, capping it off with a tremendous head-first slide to narrowly beat Will Smith’s tag.

It became an 8–1 Athletics lead in the top of the seventh on RBI singles from Miguel Andujar and JJ Bleday. A Nick Kurtz homer in the top of the eighth — the first of the rookie’s career — made it 9–1. Andujar and Bleday homers in the top of the ninth off position-pitcher Miguel Rojas — who started the game at second base — completed the scoring.

What Went Right for the Athletics

Jacob Wilson

This was the easiest subheading to write of the entire night. Wilson went 4-for-5 with two homers and four RBI. Furthermore, he reached anyway on the fifth at-bat, a fielding error by Dodgers third baseman Kiké Hernandez.

“What a night,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said with a smile. “(This is) one that he’ll remember for the rest of his life.”

Wilson, the son of former major leaguer Jack Wilson, hails from Thousand Oaks, California, a community 45 minutes northwest of Dodger Stadium. He had a large contingent in the crowd cheering him on. “It was awesome,” a beaming Wilson stated after the game, “especially for me, (since) I don’t hit too many homers. To get that (first) multi one now out of the way…pretty awesome.”

Starting Pitching

Athletics starter Jeffrey Springs kept the Dodgers off-balance all night. He scattered six hits across seven innings, allowing one run while walking two and striking out four. “This was the best game Springs has thrown for us. He’s had a couple of good starts. Now he’s building his confidence. Tonight he threw the ball as well as he could have thrown it, executed his game plan. He got some swing and miss with the change-up and was able to use the fastball in and out, up and down — executing everything, really, tonight.”

Shutting Down the Big Bats

Springs held the future Hall of Fame trio of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman to an 0-for-8 night with two walks. He also got Freeman to ground into a key inning-ending double play with runners on first and second to end the third inning. The Dodgers had already scored one run in that inning, so the double play threw cold water on that fire before it could develop into anything.

Hits, Hits, and More Hits

The Athletics clobbered 18 hits and five home runs, both season-highs for them. Eight of the nine players in their lineup had at least one hit. Five players had two hits, and Miguel Andujar had three.

What Went Wrong for the Athletics

When a team beats the defending champions — and an offense with three sure-fire future Hall of Famers — 11–1 on the road, it is hard to find fault. This was the most complete win of the season so far for the Athletics, without question.

Quick Hits

Wilson is the 19th Dodgers opponent — and first rookie — to ever notch four hits, with at least two being homers, in the history of Dodger Stadium, now in its 64th season. Three of the previous 18 to do it are now in the Hall of Fame: Willie Stargell, Andre Dawson, and Larry Walker. … Of his first career homer, Nick Kurtz had this to say: “It was awesome, especially doing it in Dodger Stadium, a pretty cool place. Growing up, I watched a lot of these guys play, so it’s nice to get the first one out of the way for sure.”

Looking Ahead

Springs (5–3, 4.27 ERA) earned the win after a Quality Start. Dodgers starting pitcher Landon Knack (2–1, 5.89 ERA) took the loss.

The Athletics (22–20) and Dodgers (27–15) will play the second game of their three-game set Wednesday night. It will be a battle of right-handers, Gunnar Hoglund (1–0, 2.38 ERA) for the Athletics and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (4–3, 1.80 ERA) for the Dodgers. First pitch will be at 7:10 pm Pacific.