Shohei Ohtani once again ignited the crowd as he became the first Major League Baseball player to reach 20 home runs this season. His home run, which was his third in consecutive games, was key in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 9-5 victory over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field.
The home run came in the fourth inning, when Ohtani punished an 84 mph cutter from Tanner Bibee, sending the ball 362 feet over the right field wall. With an exit velocity of 104.5 mph, the hit also drove in Tommy Edman, extending the lead to 4-0 and cementing Ohtani as the leading home run hitter of the campaign.
Historic Streak and Lethal Offense for the Dodgers
The home run not only represented his 20th of the year, but also made him the first player to reach that figure in just 55 games this season. He joins historic Dodgers names such as Cody Bellinger and Gil Hodges. In addition, he equaled the record of 13 home runs in a calendar month, shared with Adrian Beltre and Bellinger himself.
Michael Conforto and Max Muncy also went deep, while starter Dustin May picked up his third win after pitching five innings with nine strikeouts. The Guardians tried to respond with a three-run homer by Daniel Schneemann, but suffered their third consecutive loss to a Los Angeles offense in full swing.
Ohtani unstoppable on his way to MVP
The Japanese star continues to build an MVP-worthy season. With an offensive line of .297/.395/.660 and a 1.055 OPS, he also leads the league in runs scored (58), ranks second in slugging and OPS, and has stolen 11 bases in 15 attempts. In addition, he has 245 career home runs, 78 of them as a Dodger.
Since signing his record-breaking $700 million contract, Ohtani has responded with stellar performance that goes beyond expectations. His presence translates into immediate results for the Dodgers, who are looking to return to the World Series with him as the centerpiece of the project.
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