UPDATE (July 23, 1:30 p.m. PT): Shohei Ohtani extended his MLB record for a Japanese-born player to five consecutive games with a home run on Wednesday.
The Los Angeles Dodgers had a disappointing showing against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, but it wasn’t without Shohei Ohtani making more MLB history.
The two-way star became the first Japanese-born player to hit a home run in four consecutive games. Ohtani achieved the milestone with his two-run blast off Jhoan Duran in the ninth inning.
“Is that right? Wow. Yeah, that was a good one there. That was great,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said when informed of Ohtani’s accomplishment. “That was a really good pitcher, Duran, a 99 mile per hour split, let the ball travel. He’s using left field, which is great.
“Shohei, like I said, it seems like every night, he’s doing his part. He’s not letting the scoreboard dictate his effort. He’s in there every night, he’s taking good at-bats, he’s hitting homers, four games in a row. So all good, and like I said, the offense, I think, is starting to show some life.”
Ohtani entered play Wednesday with 36 home runs this season, which is tied with the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge and Eugenio Suárez of the Arizona Diamondbacks for second in the Majors. They all trail only Seattle Mariners All-Star Cal Raleigh’s 39 for the most home runs in baseball.
Ohtani has already set multiple Dodgers records this year, including most home runs through the first 86 games of a season (30). He also broke the Dodgers franchise record for most home runs before the month of July (29).
The 31-year-old is hitting an overall .274/.377/.616 with 55 extra-base hits and 69 RBI in 460 plate appearances across 100 games this season. He has continued to produce at an elite level while building back up as a starting pitcher.
On the mound, Ohtani has given up just two runs in 12 innings of work. He has allowed nine hits while collecting 13 strikeouts against three walks in six starts.
Shohei Ohtani accepting of Dodgers lineup changes
With the Dodgers mired in their worst stretch of the season, Roberts made a notable change on Sunday by switching Ohtani and Mookie Betts in the batting order.
“No hesitation at all,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton of dropping down to the No. 2 spot. “Anything that helps everybody feel a little more comfortable to hit, I’m happy to do so.
“I got a text message from Dave Roberts the night before about it, and I was happy to comply.”
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