Shohei Ohtani help the Dodger beat the Twins 5-2 to get back to their winning ways
Los Angeles Dodgers #17 Shohei Ohtani (P/PH) two run home run in the bottom of the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Dodger Stadium. Photo by Mark Hammond/BNS July 21, 2025.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Shohei Ohtani, with his sixth start of the season, pitched 3.0 innings and gave up four hits, one run, three strikeouts, and a home run in the top of the first inning to help the Los Angeles Dodgers (59-42) get back on the winning track by beating the Minnesota Twins (48-52) at Dodger Stadium 5-2 after being swept by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Dustin May (6-6) would get the win for the Dodgers after pitching 4.2 innings while giving up five hits and four strikeouts. The Twins starting pitcher David Festa (3-4) went 5.1 innings, four hits, four runs, three home runs, and five strikeouts.
Minnesota didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning to lead 1-0 after Byron Buxton hit a solo home run over the left center field wall off Ohtani.
The Dodgers responded in the bottom of the first inning after Mookie Betts got on base with a walk by Twins starting pitcher David Festa. Ohtani came to the plate and delivered a two-run home run, his 35th of the season, to give them a 2-1 lead.
In MLB history, no pitcher has given up a home run and had a home run in the first inning of the same game since the Phillies' Randy Lerch on May 17, 1979, against the Chicago Cubs.
Will Smith, in the bottom of the fourth inning, delivered a solo home run over the center field wall to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.
Smith wasn't finished with his home run total, adding another one in the bottom of the sixth inning, over the left center field wall for number (14) to give the Dodgers a 4-1 lead.
Los Angeles would lead 5-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning with a solo home run by Andy Pages over the left center field wall.
Minnesota would score the final run of the game in the top of the ninth inning after Kody Clemens hit a sacrifice fly to center field, and Byron Buxton scored as Los Angeles won the game 5-2 to take the first game of a three-game set.