Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles (LA) Dodgers had a breakout performance, smashing two home runs in a single game for the first time this season. However, his heroics weren’t enough to snap the team’s six-game losing streak.
On Thursday, Ohtani started as the designated hitter in an away game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The two-way superstar went 3-for-5 with two homers, two runs scored, and three run batted ins (RBIs).
This marked Ohtani’s first multi-homer game of the season and his first since September 8 last year against the Baltimore Orioles, nearly 11 months ago.
With his 25th and 26th long balls of the year, Ohtani is now just three shy of reaching the 30-homer mark for the sixth consecutive season. The performance also boosted his batting average to .297.
Ohtani wasted no time making an impact, launching a solo shot over the right-center field fence in the first inning. He battled through a seven-pitch at-bat against Japanese southpaw Shota Imanaga before connecting on the two-seamer.
After striking out in the third, Ohtani got the better of Imanaga again in the fifth with a single to center. He advanced to second on Tommy Edman’s infield hit with two outs, but the Dodgers couldn’t capitalize.
Ohtani fanned again in the seventh, but the Dodgers started to rally in the eighth. Max Muncy’s three-run blast cut into the 7-1 deficit.
Miguel Rojas followed with a single, setting the stage for Ohtani with two outs. The slugger didn’t disappoint, crushing a two-run homer off Cubs reliever Ryan Tepera to bring the score to 6-7.
Unfortunately for the Dodgers, the comeback fell short, and they couldn’t avoid another loss.
Cubs starter Imanaga earned his eighth win of the season against nine losses, allowing just one run – Ohtani’s solo shot – over five solid innings.
Despite the six-game skid, the Dodgers (69-46) maintain their grip on first place in the National League West.
The Cubs, meanwhile, extended their winning streak to three games, improving to 66-49 and holding onto second place in the National League Central.