LOS ANGELES – In a standout performance, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitched six innings of one-run ball while striking out an impressive ten batters, marking his first game without a batting appearance since 2021. The Dodgers dominated the New York Mets, winning 8-2, which handed New York their eighth consecutive loss.
Dalton Rushing, who took over as designated hitter for Ohtani, celebrated his first career grand slam off Mets closer Devin Williams in the eighth inning. Kyle Tucker also contributed with a two-out solo home run—his first at home as a Dodger—off pitcher Austin Warren, extending the lead to 8-1.
Ohtani (2-0) had previously gone 33 consecutive innings without giving up an earned run until MJ Melendez’s RBI double in the fifth inning narrowed the Mets’ deficit to 2-1. This marked the first earned run Ohtani had allowed since August 27 against the Cincinnati Reds.
This game was notable as Ohtani did not bat during his mound start for the first time since May 28, 2021, while playing for the Los Angeles Angels. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained that Ohtani was still experiencing soreness from being hit in the back of his right shoulder by Mets pitcher David Peterson earlier in the week.
Ohtani recorded a season-high ten strikeouts for the Dodgers, including two against All-Star Francisco Lindor. The second time he struck out Lindor, Ohtani fired a 99 mph fastball on his 11th pitch, prompting a wry smile from both players.
In total, Ohtani walked two batters and threw 95 pitches, with 63 of those for strikes. He demonstrated formidable command, striking out the side in the sixth inning and achieving 22 swings and misses, his highest count with the Dodgers so far.
The Dodgers improved their record to 14-4 and celebrated a home sweep of the Mets for the first time since June 2017. With previous sweeps against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Washington Nationals, the Dodgers are now 9-0 against National League opponents this season.
The Dodgers took a 2-0 lead thanks to Hyeseong Kim’s two-run homer off Mets starter Clay Holmes (2-2) in the second inning. Teoscar Hernández later added an opposite-field solo home run against reliever Tobias Myers in the sixth.
Despite the loss, the Mets managed five hits in their 11th game without injured star Juan Soto (calf). Throughout the series, they were outscored 14-4.
MJ Melendez was the sole Met to find success against Ohtani, going 2-for-2 with two doubles after being called up from Triple-A earlier that day.
With this victory, the Dodgers improved to an outstanding 18-4 on Jackie Robinson Day, the best record in Major League Baseball since MLB designated this day in 2004 to honor the player who broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947.
Looking ahead, the Mets will have RHP Kodai Senga (0-2, 7.07 ERA) starting on Friday against the Chicago Cubs’ RHP Edward Cabrera (1-0, 1.62 ERA). Simultaneously, the Dodgers will see RHP Tyler Glasnow (1-0, 4.00 ERA) pitching at Colorado against Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (1-0, 2.16 ERA).
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
