Shohei Ohtani bounced back perfectly on Monday night in a way that only he could.
Ohtani returned to the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday for the first time since the All-Star break in their 5-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. Though he gave up a home run right off the bat at Dodger Stadium, Ohtani made sure that the Dodgers were back out in front by the time he returned for the second inning.
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Ohtani, after Mookie Betts was walked to start the game, hit a two-run home run to center field. It marked his 35th home run of the season.
The home run came just minutes after Twins star Byron Buxton hit a deep home run to kick off the night in the top of the inning. That was the first extra base hit that Ohtani has allowed all season.
Ohtani ended up striking out two in the inning to limit the damage.
Ohtani was pulled after three innings on Monday night, which matched his longest start of the season. He was replaced by Dustin May. Ohtani gave up four hits and had three strikeouts while throwing 46 pitches. He struck out in his other three at-bats of the night.
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Monday night marked the sixth time Ohtani has taken the mound since returning from a torn UCL. That’s been a slow process, too, though he’s lasted longer on the mound as time has gone on. He pitched just one inning in each of his first two starts, then he lasted two innings in the following two appearances. Right before the All-Star break, Ohtani had a season-high four strikeouts in three innings against the San Francisco Giants.
Though Monday night's performance didn't get off to the best start, Ohtani expertly made his way through it and came out just fine.
Freddie Freeman returns after wrist injury
Despite what looked like a significant wrist injury the day before, Dodgers star Freddie Freeman returned to the lineup Monday as if nothing had happened.
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Freeman left the Dodgers’ loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday afternoon after he took an 88 mph sinker directly to the wrist. He immediately pulled himself from the game, and was ruled out with a left wrist contusion.
His X-rays after that game were negative, though, and he was considered day-to-day. Then on Monday, Freeman was right back in the Dodgers’ lineup. He said he felt a little sore ahead of the game, but was otherwise good to go. Freeman ended up going 1-of-4 from the plate.
The Dodgers held the Twins scoreless until the ninth inning, when they added one last run after loading up the bases. That comeback push, however, was stopped just short. The Dodgers held on to grab the three-run win. Pitcher Tanner Scott was pulled from the game in the ninth inning with a trainer after allowing two runners on, though specifics of his injury and status are unknown.
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Will Smith hit a pair of solo home runs in the fourth and sixth innings for the Dodgers to get them on the board after Ohtani's homer, and then Andy Pages added another solo shot in the seventh. The win pushed the Dodgers to 59-42 on the season, and it snapped a three-game losing streak that came after they were swept by the Milwaukee Brewers out of the All-Star break.
The second game of the three-game series is set for Tuesday night.
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