Baseball: Shohei Ohtani dazzles on mound as Dodgers stop skid against Giants
The two-way superstar's fifth start in a Dodger uniform was his best to date, marking another encouraging step in his pitching comeback following his second major elbow surgery in September 2023.
He retired nine of the 11 batters he faced at Oracle Park, striking out four and working around a walk and a base hit while throwing 36 pitches, 25 of them for strikes.
The three-time MVP was locked in from the outset against the Giants, striking out the side on 12 pitches in the first inning. He got through the second on 23 pitches, with his efficiency enabling him to come back out for the third.
"It was a good three innings," said Ohtani, who also went 0-for-4 as the Dodgers' leadoff hitter. "The best thing was that the high velocity came naturally, while I focused on my command and emphasized creating a rhythm."
Michael Conforto went 3-for-4 while Kim Hye Seong and Tommy Edman each drove in a run for the Dodgers.
At Petco Park, Yu Darvish made his second start of the season for the San Diego Padres in their 5-4 win against the Philadelphia Phillies. The veteran right-hander did not factor in the decision after allowing four runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out two over 4-2/3 innings.
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