Baseball: Ohtani homers twice, Dodgers win series opener vs. Yankees
KYODO NEWS - 11 minutes ago - 16:18 | Sports, All
Shohei Ohtani hit a pair of solo home runs as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to beat the New York Yankees 8-5 on Friday in the opening game of their 2024 World Series rematch series.
After Aaron Judge hit his 19th homer of the season to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, Ohtani answered with one of his own in the bottom half at Dodger Stadium.
Five innings later, Ohtani launched his major league-leading 22nd home run over the head of right fielder Judge to spark the four-run sixth that turned a 5-2 deficit into a 6-5 lead.
The reigning National League MVP had his second two-homer game of the season. Ohtani has hit 15 home runs in May.
Asked to comment after the game on his and Judge's home runs in the first inning, Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton, "It was a really good start to the game. It was back and forth between two really good teams, and I'm glad that we came out at the top."
Andy Pages singled in two insurance runs in the seventh.
Ohtani finished the night 2-for-5 with the two RBIs. The Yankees hit four home runs in the first three innings but were held scoreless the rest of the way.
"I feel like I have a pretty good rhythm with my new lifestyle," Ohtani said when asked if he has some "extra dad strength" after the birth of his first child, a daughter, last month.
"But we're still really not even in the middle part of the season, so I'm just really focused on one game at a time."
Among other Japanese players, Chicago Cubs designated hitter Seiya Suzuki went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to a career-high-tying 10 games in a 6-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
Related coverage:
Baseball: Shohei Ohtani hits MLB-leading 20th homer in Dodgers' win
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