How Shohei Ohtani Became Baseball’s Winning Starting Pitcher

This article dives into a big moment for Shohei Ohtani with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He finally picked up his first win as a starting pitcher for the team.

It’s been nearly 20 months since he signed with the Dodgers. After a careful recovery from elbow surgery, Ohtani put on a show against the Cincinnati Reds that reminded everyone why he’s such a force on the mound.

Shohei Ohtani’s First Win on the Mound for the Dodgers

Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, Shohei Ohtani delivered a performance that fans had been waiting for since he joined the team. In the Dodgers’ 5–1 win over the Reds, Ohtani pitched five innings for the first time in a Los Angeles uniform.

He allowed just one run and struck out a season-high nine batters. Considering his long and meticulous recovery process from elbow surgery in 2023, that’s no small feat.

Pitching Through Challenges

Manager Dave Roberts pointed out that this was the first time all season Ohtani managed to push through a high pitch count and finish five innings. His first two starts didn’t go as planned—he left before the fifth due to high pitch counts and some command issues.

But against the Reds, Ohtani made key adjustments. He threw 23 curveballs and leaned on breaking pitches for 53% of his deliveries.

His fastball even touched 100.3 mph. The mix of splitters and sliders kept the Reds off balance all night.

Overcoming Early Command Issues

It wasn’t a perfect outing. Ohtani walked two, threw two wild pitches, and gave up a solo homer early.

Still, he regrouped and retired the last eight batters he faced. That kind of mental toughness is part of what makes him so captivating to watch.

Dodgers’ Offensive Support

The Dodgers’ bats woke up in the fourth inning with a four-run rally. Some highlights from that frame:

• Ohtani led off with a sharp single to right field
• Kiké Hernández came through with a clutch two-run hit
• Dalton Rushing drove in two more

In the eighth, Michael Conforto added a solo shot to deep right, stretching the lead even further.

Dominant Pitching Staff Performance

After Ohtani left, the Dodgers’ bullpen took over. Four relievers combined for 10 strikeouts, and with Ohtani’s nine, Los Angeles finished with an eye-popping 19 strikeouts in the game.

The staff’s mix of velocity and movement just shut down Cincinnati from start to finish.

Sweeping the Reds and Extending the Streak

The Dodgers completed a three-game sweep over the Reds, pushing their winning streak to four games. The stadium buzzed with energy, and maybe it was just a little louder because it was Shohei Ohtani Bobblehead Night.

What This Start Means for the Dodgers

Ohtani’s ability to go deeper into games could really shift things for the Dodgers. Their lineup is already one of the best in baseball, but getting quality starts from Ohtani helps keep the bullpen fresh and makes a playoff push more realistic.

Honestly, watching Ohtani pitch and hit at this level is a reminder of why he’s such a rare talent. Not many players have ever influenced both sides of the game like he does.

Looking Ahead

The Dodgers want to keep their winning momentum going as they move into the next series.

Fans can’t help but hope this marks the start of many more unforgettable pitching performances from Ohtani in Dodger blue.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Shohei Ohtani — the winning starting pitcher