Astros Rout Dodgers 18-1 in Worst Dodger Stadium Loss

On July 4th, the Houston Astros delivered a historic 18-1 rout over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, marking the Dodgers' worst loss in their home history. Astros' Jose Altuve, a controversial figure among Dodgers fans due to the 2017 sign-stealing scandal, homered twice and drove in five runs, while Christian Walker added a home run and four RBIs. The Astros scored 10 runs in the sixth inning, including a grand slam by Victor Caratini, capitalizing on poor pitching performances by Dodgers rookies Ben Casparius and reliever Noah Davis. Despite the lopsided defeat, Dodgers veteran pitcher Clayton Kershaw celebrated a personal milestone by recording his 3000th strikeout, becoming the 20th pitcher in MLB history to do so, a moment warmly celebrated by fans. Additionally, Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani leads the National League in All-Star voting, with teammates Freddie Freeman and Will Smith also receiving strong support, positioning the Dodgers to potentially set a franchise record for All-Star starters. This juxtaposition of historic team struggles and individual achievements highlights a turbulent yet momentous period for the Dodgers franchise.