Shohei Ohtani Earns First Dodgers Win, Season-High 9 Strikeouts

This article takes a closer look at Shohei Ohtani’s finest pitching performance of the season. It happened on a memorable bobblehead giveaway night at Dodger Stadium.

In front of an electric home crowd, Ohtani not only earned his first win as a Los Angeles Dodger but also showed off a new, sharper approach on the mound. The Dodgers finished a sweep of the Cincinnati Reds, tightening their grip on the NL West.

Ohtani Dominates on a Special Night

For fans, it was already a special night — another in a string of collectible bobblehead giveaways for the Japanese superstar. Ohtani gave them even more to cheer about with his outing on the mound.

The Dodgers’ two-way sensation struck out nine Reds over just 87 pitches. He allowed only one run — a solo shot from Noelvi Marte.

This win mattered for more than just the scoreboard. Ohtani hadn’t recorded a victory since August 9, 2023, thanks to injuries and careful management.

It was also the first time in 11 starts this year that he pitched past the fifth inning.

Dodgers’ Careful Approach Pays Off

Since Ohtani arrived, the Dodgers have managed his workload closely. They’ve usually limited him to five innings per start, hoping to keep him healthy for a playoff run.

Some fans have felt impatient, wanting to see Ohtani go deeper. On this night, though, the plan worked out just right.

A Strategic Adjustment on the Mound

One of the most interesting things about this win was a big change in Ohtani’s pitch selection. After a couple of rough outings against the Angels and Rockies, where he gave up nine earned runs, he leaned hard on his curveball.

Career-High Curveball Usage

Ohtani threw his curveball 23 times out of 87 pitches, or 26% of the time. Earlier this year, he barely used it — just 2.5% of his pitches.

The impact was obvious:

• He got several swings and misses, leaving Reds hitters guessing
• Batters froze, expecting his fastball or splitter, but watched curveballs drop in for strikes
• Only one ground ball came off the curve, and it was a weak out

Even more interesting, Ohtani’s curveball came in almost 4 mph faster than usual. That’s not luck — it’s a clear, intentional tweak in how he’s throwing it.

Impact on the NL West Race

Ohtani’s resurgence couldn’t have come at a better time for the Dodgers. The 5-1 win finished off a three-game sweep of Cincinnati.

Meanwhile, the Padres lost to the Mariners, so Los Angeles stretched its division lead to two games.

Fans Can’t Get Enough of Ohtani

Off the field, Ohtani’s star power just keeps growing. The Dodgers have already rolled out five different bobblehead designs for the two-time MVP, and there’s a sixth coming in September.

His mix of elite talent, international appeal, and that undeniable charisma makes every start feel like an event. Bobblehead nights, especially, have turned into something special for fans and the team — and this one just happened to line up with Ohtani’s biggest Dodger moment yet.

Looking Ahead

The Dodgers still want to limit Ohtani’s innings until the postseason. Fans should expect more carefully managed starts for a while.

If his new curveball keeps fooling hitters like it did against Cincinnati, Los Angeles might have a playoff version of Ohtani that’s even more dangerous. That’s a pretty exciting prospect, right?

His first win in Dodger blue stands out as a night where strategy, performance, and star power all came together. Fans definitely got more than just a souvenir to remember.

 
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