In a notable game on Monday, Shohei Ohtani reminded fans of his dual-threat capabilities as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Minnesota Twins 5-2. Ohtani, after allowing a leadoff home run to Byron Buxton—the first extra-base hit permitted against him this season—quickly reconciled by hitting a towering two-run homer himself, measuring an impressive 441 feet.
This victory marked just the third win for the Dodgers in their last 13 games, but the victory was somewhat overshadowed by concerns for the team’s pitching depth. In the ninth inning, reliever Tanner Scott exited with a worrying sensation in his left forearm while facing Ryan Jeffers, leading Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts to indicate that Scott is likely heading to the injured list. An MRI scheduled for Tuesday will determine the extent of his injury.
In a close eighth inning, Kirby Yates took over from Scott but faced immediate pressure, as he allowed a bases-loaded walk before narrowly preventing a major collapse when Carlos Correa’s potential game-tying fly ball was caught at the warning track by James Outman.
Ohtani’s performance was not without its challenges; he threw a season-high 46 pitches over his three innings of work and acknowledged making several mistakes by leaving pitches over the plate, resulting in seven hard-hit balls against him. However, he managed to maintain a season ERA of 1.50, showcasing his resilience and potential impact as the season progresses. Ohtani’s homer was his 35th of the season and marked a significant milestone in his career, making him one of just 12 players to hit that many homers in their first eight seasons.
After a rough patch for the Dodgers, which included a sweep by the Milwaukee Brewers, Ohtani and the team managed to come together, hoping to shift their momentum moving forward. Commenting on the need to maintain composure, Ohtani expressed a sense of responsibility to help uplift his team during challenging times.
As he aims for expanded outings in his next start, Ohtani remains focused and driven, stating, “I want to get to that four-inning mark.” The Dodgers will be looking to build on this win as they continue their season, hoping to turn around their fortunes with Ohtani leading from both the mound and at the plate.