Ohtani Homers After Allowing First HR in Dodgers Victory

Monday night’s MLB matchup between the Minnesota Twins and the Los Angeles Dodgers had all the drama you could want. Big hits, tense moments, and a weird bit of history all showed up.

Shohei Ohtani gave up his first home run of the season to Byron Buxton. He didn’t let it bother him for long, though—he smashed a towering two-run homer that helped the Dodgers grab a much-needed 5-2 win.

Ohtani wasn’t at his sharpest on the mound. Still, his wild talent as both a pitcher and a hitter kept the Dodgers steady enough to finally snap their slump.

A Game Filled with Highs and Lows

Los Angeles has been stumbling lately, with just three wins in their last 13 games. Monday’s game looked like it might become another mess, especially when the team nearly coughed up a four-run lead in the ninth.

Reliever Tanner Scott left the game, possibly injured, and Dodgers fans were definitely on edge. Kirby Yates came in and made things even more stressful by loading the bases and giving up a sacrifice fly.

James Outman saved the day with a huge catch at the warning track, robbing Carlos Correa of a game-tying homer. That moment felt like the entire season hanging by a thread.

Key Moments in the Dodgers’ Defensive Effort

Here’s what stood out in those tense final innings:

• Tanner Scott’s velocity dropped before he left with a left forearm injury. He’ll probably end up on the injured list.
• Kirby Yates took over in a pressure cooker, and somehow got through it despite loading the bases.
• James Outman’s warning track catch kept the Dodgers ahead and stopped what could’ve been a total meltdown.

Shohei Ohtani’s Explosive Performance

Shohei Ohtani keeps making baseball look easy and impossible at the same time. Yeah, he gave up Buxton’s leadoff homer—his first extra-base hit allowed all year—but he shrugged it off fast.

In the bottom of the first, Ohtani crushed a 441-foot home run to center, electrifying Dodger Stadium. That two-run shot set the tone and showed why he’s on another level.

Ohtani’s Historical Achievements

He hit another milestone or two, because of course he did:

• First player since 1979 to hit and allow a home run in the first inning of the same game.
• His 35th homer of the season makes him just the ninth MLB player with multiple 35-homer years in both leagues.
• Ohtani’s 260th career homer puts him among only 12 players to reach that mark in their first eight seasons.

After the game, Ohtani admitted he made too many mistakes over the plate. Even so, he’s still rocking a 1.50 ERA through six starts and 12 innings this season.

Contributions from Key Players Help Dodgers Snap Their Slump

Ohtani wasn’t the only one who showed up. Dustin May pitched well, keeping the Twins quiet when it mattered.

Catcher Will Smith added two home runs, which was huge on a night when runs were hard to come by.

Will Smith Steps Up

Smith’s bat made a real difference:

• He hit two homers, giving the Dodgers some breathing room against the Twins.
• Smith came through right when the team needed it most, showing his knack for clutch moments.

Looking Ahead for the Dodgers

For a Dodgers team desperate to regain momentum, Monday night’s win offers a glimmer of hope. Still, there are concerns that just won’t go away.

Tanner Scott’s forearm injury might shake up the bullpen even more. The team keeps searching for some kind of consistency, both at the plate and in the field.

Ohtani’s playing at an MVP-level pace right now. That spark could be just what Los Angeles needs to claw their way back into form.

Ohtani stands out as one of the greatest talents baseball’s ever seen. But honestly, the Dodgers need more than just him if they want any shot at making noise in the postseason.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Ohtani gives up HR, then hits one of his own in win