Ohtani homers, strikes out four as Dodgers star continues two-way surge

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani’s sixth start as a Dodger wasn’t just another step in his carefully choreographed return to pitching. It was a full-on statement. On a warm Monday night at Dodger Stadium, Ohtani turned in a classic two-way performance that reminded the 50,000-plus in attendance — and the rest of Major League Baseball — exactly why he remains one of the most electric players in the sport.

He not only pitched but also led the Dodgers to a 5-2 victory against the Minnesota Twins.

In the bottom of the first inning, just minutes after giving up his first home run of the season — a leadoff blast to Byron Buxton — Ohtani responded in the most Ohtani way possible: by crushing a 441-foot moon shot to dead center. Off the bat at 113.4 mph, it was his 35th home run of the year, a reminder that every time Ohtani steps on a field, he can change a game from both the mound and the plate.

Ohtani’s outing started with that punch to the chin — a first-pitch fastball that Buxton sent into the left-field pavilion. It was the first homer Ohtani had surrendered all year. But where some might have wobbled, Ohtani steadied.

He scattered four hits across three innings, striking out four and walking none, throwing 46 pitches — 30 of them strikes. The moment of truth came in the second inning, with Twins runners on first and second and just one out. Ohtani calmly struck out Harrison Bader on three pitches, then retired Buxton on a fly ball to escape unscathed. It was the kind of sequence that showcased both his stuff and his growing sharpness as he stretches deeper into his return to mound duty.

Ohtani needed 36 pitches to get through his first two innings but dialed in for a cleaner third to close his night. It was never about going deep into this game — Dave Roberts made clear that three innings was the cap — but rather how Ohtani handled major league hitters in live action.

Ohtani has recorded 14 strikeouts across 12 innings this season, allowing just one walk and posting an ERA of 1.50 through six starts. 

After losing 10 of their last 12 games, the Dodgers won their 59th game of the season.

Buxton hit a home run on the second pitch of the game thrown by Ohtani, but the Twins remained flat for the rest of the match. Right-hander Dustin May relieved Ohtani and pitched 4 ⅔ scoreless innings. After May reached his 100th pitch, Dave Roberts opted for left-hander Tanner Scott with runners on the corners. May allowed five hits, three walks, and recorded four strikeouts. Bader lined out to Tommy Edman at third base, ending the inning.

The Dodgers played error-free baseball after committing three errors on Sunday afternoon. Their offense was powered by four home runs: Ohtani hit his 35th of the season, Andy Pages added his 18th, and Will Smith hit two, bringing his total to 14. This marked Smith's fourth career multi-homer game and his first since July 5, 2024.

This was Mookie Betts' second game in the leadoff spot, where he went 2-for-8 with one walk and a strikeout. Betts was on base both times when Ohtani homered, which tends to benefit Ohtani's performance at the plate. Betts is currently batting .241 this season. Freddie Freeman recorded his National League-leading 27th double in the sixth inning, which was his only hit of the game. The Dodgers scored five runs on seven hits, while right-hander David Festa (3-4, 5.40 ERA) pitched 5 ⅓ innings, allowing four hits and four runs while striking out five on 81 pitches.

The Dodgers will hand the ball to Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-7, 2.59 ERA) on Tuesday night. The Twins will counter with right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson (5-4, 3.95 ERA) as the Dodgers aim to expand their division lead, sitting 3 ½ games ahead of the Padres and seven games in front of the Giants.