The Los Angeles Dodgers bounced back with a better offensive performance on Wednesday, but still fell 10-6 to the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The team received home runs from Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages, both of which came off rookie Paul Skenes.
Ohtani struck out in his first at-bat against Skenes but got some revenge in the third with a two-run shot that put the Dodgers on the board. He connected on a 100.1 mph fastball, which was the fastest pitch he has homered off in his career.
Ohtani’s blast was the second-fastest pitch a Dodgers players has homered off since pitch tracking began in 2008, via Sarah Langs of MLB.com:
SHOHEI OHTANI
Off 100.1 mph!
That is:
– The fastest pitch he has homered off of in his career
– The 2nd-fastest pitch a Dodgers player has homered off of under pitch tracking (2008), behind only Max Muncy off of 101.2 mph on 8/13/22 https://t.co/utoFOfzNyr— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 5, 2024
Ohtani’s home run off Skenes had an exit velocity of 105.6 mph and traveled an estimated 415 feet. It was the third home run allowed by the right-hander in his young career. He would give up his fourth in the fifth when Pages took him deep.
For Ohtani, it was his 15th home run in 60 games this season. He finished 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, which was an encouraging showing considering his recent struggles.
Even with his recent slump, Ohtani is hitting an excellent .322/.390/.598 with 34 extra-base hits, 40 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 271 plate appearances.
Paul Skenes vs. Shohei Ohtani dual bobblehead
FOCO released a limited-edition bobblehead of kenes and Ohtani, which depicts them in respective action poses — Skenes pitching and Ohtani hitting — and positioned in front of team-colored backdrops and on top of a base with stadium and baseball accents.
On the backdrop are text displays of “STEEL CITY SHO DOWN” and “EAST VS. WEST” to further highlight the matchup of Skenes facing Ohtani.
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