The Dodgers (52-31) and Royals (38-44) fought back-and-forth in the series opener Friday night at Kauffman Stadium, but Freddie Freeman and the Dodgers were able to pick up the 5-4 win.

Neither Dustin May nor Kansas City rookie left-hander Noah Cameron were involved in the decision after each going four innings and making exactly 84 pitches.

All-Star Shohei Ohtani continued his slugging surge with his NL-leading 29th home run and his fourth homer in his last five games. Max Muncy also hit a big home run out of the eight spot, and Freeman literally saved the game with his glove in the bottom of the ninth.

Ohtani made a big splash to start the series with a two-strike leadoff home run off a Cameroon changeup into the center field fountains 429 feet away.

A Royal Rally

Kansas City came right back to tie it in the first to snap their scoreless drought. Dustin May’s sweeper wasn’t sharp to start the game, and he labored through 30 pitches in the first inning. May allowed three straight two-out base runners, but KC was only able to get one run off a Salvador Perez RBI single.

Bat Drops and Big Flies

Max Muncy took Cameron deep for a two-run home run out of the eighth spot in the lineup in the top of the second to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.

Royal Rally Resumes

May continued to struggle with his command in the second inning, and Teoscar Hernández misplayed a ball in right field that proved costly. The poor pitching and defense led to a go-ahead Bobby Witt Jr. two-run homer to give the Royals a 4-3 lead.

The Dodgers got Hernandez to third base with two outs in the third for slumping Freddie Freeman who struck out for the second time against Cameron.

America’s Catcher Will Smith casually threw out Freddy Fermin at second base with one out in the bottom of the fourth which proved key. Kyle Isbel doubled for the second time in the game against May, but the Royals had nothing to cash in after Smith wiped the bases clean with his arm.

Kauffman Stadium Can’t Contain Ohtani

Ohtani’s RBI triple to the gap in the fifth tied the game at four runs apiece and chased the rookie southpaw Cameron from the game.

Mookie Betts jumped on the first pitch he saw from Kansas City reliever Steven Cruz to drive in Ohtani for the lead.

Luis García took over for May in the fifth for the Dodgers who had to go to their bullpen early again. The Dodgers hadn’t used García out of the bullpen since May 27. García walked Salvador Perez and gave up a base hit to top prospect Jac Caglianone, but he was able to escape the inning without coughing up any runs.

Banda’s Big Strikeout

The Royals started a rally again in the seventh, but Anthony Banda came up with a huge Jac Caglianone strikeout to strand two runners and hold on to the one-run lead.

Alex Vesia pitched a scoreless eighth despite having some words for the home plate umpire’s strike zone in the inning.

It was up to Tanner Scott to retire ninth inning leadoff hitter Witt Jr. Vesia was annoyed with Alex Tosi, the home plate ump, in the previous frame. Tosi made up for it with a questionable called third strike on Witt Jr. for a big first out.

Maikel Garcia singled, and Vinnie Pasquantino drew a walk against Scott. For the second time tonight, a ball dropped in the middle of no-man’s land in shallow right field to load the bases.

Freddie’s Glove Saves

Freeman might be in one of the worst offensive slumps of his career right now, but he saved the game for the Dodgers with his glove. Caglianone grounded into a double play that was completed with an incredible pick at first base.

Friday particulars

Home runs: Shohei Ohtani (29), Max Muncy (13), Bobby Witt Jr. (11)

WP — Lou Trivino (3-0): 1 ²⁄₃ IP, no runs, 1 hit, no walks, 1 strikeout

LP — Noah Cameron (2-3): 4 IP, 3 hits, 5 runs, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts (84 pitches)

Sv — Tanner Scott (18): 1 IP, 2 hits, no runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

Up next

Shohei Ohtani makes his third pitching start for the Dodgers in the second game at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday at (1:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Seth Lugo (4-5, 2.93 ERA, 1.05 WHIP) starts for the Royals.