Shohei Ohtani hits two home runs in a single game as the Dodgers defeat the Orioles to end a five-game losing streak.

Shohei Ohtani reached base in all five plate appearances today, including two home runs off Baltimore Orioles starter Tomoyuki Sugano, aiding the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 5-2 away win over the Orioles, ending their five-game losing streak.

On the second pitch of the game, Shohei Ohtani hit his 47th home run of the season, putting the Dodgers ahead. At the start of the third inning, he once more hammered a pitch from Sugano, increasing the lead to 2-0. This brought his season total to 48 home runs, temporarily placing him second in the National League, just one behind Kyle Schwarber.

With 19 games remaining in the regular season, Ohtani has a chance to achieve back-to-back seasons with at least 50 home runs. However, his current total of 48 homers is already his personal best for a two-way player who also pitches. Before this, his highest home run count in a pitching season was 46 in 2021. These 48 homers also set a new Major League record for most home runs in a single season by a pitcher who started at least two games.

In his next three plate appearances, Ohtani drew walks each time, finishing the day with 2 hits in 2 at-bats, 2 home runs, 2 RBIs, and 3 walks. The Dodgers as a team collected 10 hits. Although they only managed 2 hits with runners in scoring position over 10 at-bats, they still scored 5 runs. Mookie Betts and Michael Conforto each had 2 hits, with Betts driving in 2 runs, including a home run immediately following Ohtani’s in the third inning.

Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw threw 5.2 innings, striking out 8 and walking just one, allowing 4 hits. Despite giving up 2 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, he helped the Dodgers end their losing streak and earned his 10th win of the season (with 2 losses).

Tomoyuki Sugano lasted only 3 innings, recording 1 strikeout and no walks, but surrendered 7 hits, including 3 home runs, and gave up 4 runs, taking his 8th loss of the season (with 10 wins). Notably, with the Dodgers having started Shohei Ohtani and Yusuke Yamamoto as pitchers in the previous two games, this marks the first series in Major League history where Japanese pitchers started at least three consecutive games.