LOS ANGELES — After 10 homer-less games and a slight lull in his production, Shohei Ohtani reminded the baseball world why he’s one of the most dangerous hitters in the game.
The three-time MVP launched two home runs Saturday night at Dodger Stadium, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a commanding 11-5 victory over the San Francisco Giants. The blasts not only snapped his power drought, but also propelled him to 25 home runs on the season—marking the fifth straight year he’s reached that milestone.
“It did feel like I hadn’t hit a homer in a while,” Ohtani admitted postgame through his interpreter. “The first one meant a lot. Getting the lead early sets the tone.”
Ohtani wasted no time setting that tone. In the bottom of the first, he hammered Landen Roupp’s fourth pitch of the night—an inside fastball—419 feet into the right-field bleachers with an exit velocity of 110.3 mph. It was his 24th homer of the year and an emphatic end to a stretch in which he had gone 10-for-40 with zero RBIs since his last home run on June 2.
In the sixth inning, Ohtani wasn’t done. Facing reliever Tristan Beck, he turned on a breaking ball well outside the strike zone, launching it into the same section of seats for his 25th homer—and earning a standing ovation from the Dodger faithful. The multihomer night was his third this season and 22nd of his MLB career.
Back in the HR Race
With the pair of long balls, Ohtani now trails only Aaron Judge (26) and Cal Raleigh (26) in the race for the MLB home run lead.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts wasn’t aware of the magnitude of the drought but wasn’t surprised by the way his superstar responded.
“He has a way of making up for things and leveling them out,” Roberts said. “Two big swings tonight got him back on track. When he’s going like that, everything gets easier for us.”
A Complete Night at the Plate
Ohtani reached base four times and scored three runs in his first four plate appearances. In addition to the two homers, he drew two walks, extending his overall offensive impact well beyond the long ball.
The breakout comes on the heels of a quieter two-week stretch following a monster May, where Ohtani was named National League Player of the Month after slugging 15 home runs and driving in 28 runs.
Now, with the power surge reignited, Ohtani appears poised to heat up once again—and as always, that’s bad news for opposing pitchers and a boost to the Dodgers’ title hopes.
