Shohei Ohtani Earns First Win of Season in Five-Inning Gem

Shohei Ohtani delivered a masterful performance on the mound and at the plate to earn his first win as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers this season.

In a game that showcased both his recovery from a second UCL surgery and his unique two-way talent, Ohtani pitched five strong innings against the Cincinnati Reds and struck out a season-high nine batters.

He helped ignite the offense for a sweep-clinching victory. The Japanese superstar showed growing command, mixed up his pitches, and made a real impact on the Dodgers’ push in the NL West.

Ohtani Finds His Rhythm on the Mound

After struggling in his previous two starts, Ohtani made crucial adjustments that paid off. Instead of sticking with his usual fastball and sweeper, he mixed in a more balanced set of pitches.

He threw 87 pitches and used seven different offerings, leaning on curveballs early to mess with hitters’ timing. It was a noticeable shift.

Breaking Pitches Lead the Way

Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing said the plan was to use off-speed pitches early and keep the Reds guessing. Ohtani’s curveball got the spotlight — he threw it 17 times and notched four strikeouts with it.

By starting with breaking balls, he set up his fastball for later and kept Cincinnati off balance. His only real blemish came from a solo homer by Noelvi Marte, but otherwise, he didn’t let much else happen.

He did walk two and tossed two wild pitches, which, yeah, wasn’t ideal. Still, Ohtani settled down and retired eight straight batters to close out his outing.

Performance at the Plate

One of the marvels of watching Ohtani is how quickly he can switch roles from pitcher to hitter. Moments after ending the fifth inning with a sharp slider, he stepped up as the Dodgers’ leadoff man.

His impact was immediate — he sparked a four-run rally with a well-timed single. The guy just doesn’t waste time.

Two-Way Impact That Changes Games

Unlike most pitchers, Ohtani’s hitting means the Dodgers don’t lose offense when he’s on the mound. In this game, his bat mattered just as much as his arm, helping Los Angeles break things open and grab a 5-1 win.

It’s the kind of performance fans hope for every time he’s on the card — that rare blend of skills you just don’t see much in baseball.

Momentum Building for the Dodgers

The victory marked Los Angeles’ fourth straight win. They’ve now got a two-game lead over the Padres in the National League West.

With the roster almost back to full strength, the Dodgers look pretty dangerous right now. Who knows what’s next?

Manager’s Praise and the Road Ahead

Manager Dave Roberts didn’t hold back. He praised Ohtani’s command of multiple pitches and pointed out how important this outing was for building stamina and rhythm.

Roberts seemed genuinely excited. He called it the kind of performance that can shape a season—a high-profile player finally finding his form as the team starts to roll.

• First win with the Dodgers since second UCL surgery
• Struck out a season-high nine batters
• Threw 87 pitches across seven different pitch types
• Leaned heavily on curveballs for strikeouts
• Recorded a clutch single to fuel a four-run rally
• Dodgers now lead NL West by two games

Ohtani looked like he might’ve turned a corner in his return to pitching at full strength. If he keeps mixing power, control, and creativity like he did against Cincinnati—and keeps producing at the plate—the Dodgers’ shot at a deep postseason run just keeps getting better.

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