Baseball

Shohei Ohtani Hits 2-run Homer and Scores Go-ahead Run on His Special Day in LA as Dodgers Beat Reds 7-3

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani has sunflower seeds tossed at him by Teoscar Hernandez after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, May 17, 2024, in Los Angeles.

13:54 JST, May 18, 2024

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani slugged a two-run homer and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning when the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied after blowing a 3-0 lead to beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-3 on Friday night.

Earlier, the Los Angeles city council proclaimed May 17 as Shohei Ohtani Day in the city for as long as the Japanese two-way superstar plays for the Dodgers. He signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract in December.

Ohtani bounced back after being hitless in two at-bats on his first bobblehead night Thursday. The promotion snarled traffic outside Dodger Stadium and created long lines of fans clamoring for one of the 40,000 souvenirs, some of which were quickly offered for sale online at exorbitant prices.

Tied at 3, Will Smith singled in Ohtani, who grounded into a fielder’s choice to first and was safe at second on a throwing error by shortstop Elly De La Cruz. The Dodgers made it 5-3 when Freddie Freeman scored on a wild pitch by Fernando Cruz (1-5) that sailed to the backstop.

Jason Heyward hit a two-run homer in the eighth, extending the lead to 7-3.

Michael Grove (2-2) got the win with one inning of relief.

Mookie Betts homered leading off the bottom of the first for the Dodgers, who avoided their second three-game losing streak of the season.

Ohtani went deep to left field in the third for his 13th homer of the season. Betts scored after a fielder’s choice groundout to shortstop, giving the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.

Betts’ throwing error led to Jonathan India scoring the Reds’ first run in the fourth.

They got solo shots by Stuart Fairchild in the fifth and Tyler Stephenson with two outs in the sixth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: Placed LHP Justin Wilson (left shoulder tightness) on the 15-day injured list.

Dodgers: INF Max Muncy (right oblique strain) went on the 10-day IL. He felt it during batting practice Thursday and an MRI on Friday showed a mild strain. … Transferred RHP Connor Brogdon (right plantar fasciitis) to the 60-day IL.