LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani showcased his power at the plate, smashing two home runs as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees 8-5 in a rematch of last year’s World Series on a lively Friday night.
In a thrilling display, both Ohtani and Yankees captain Aaron Judge, the two reigning MVPs, made history by hitting home runs in the first inning. Judge launched a 446-foot drive off Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin, marking his 19th home run of the season, while Ohtani responded with a 417-foot shot off Max Fried on the very first pitch he faced.
New York took an early advantage when Austin Wells hit a home run and Trent Grisham followed with a two-run blast, giving the Yankees a 4-1 lead. Paul Goldschmidt, a former MVP, added to the Yankees’ tally with a solo shot in the third inning, extending their lead to 5-2.
However, reminiscent of their Game 5 collapse in last year’s championship series, the Yankees faltered. The Dodgers surged in the sixth inning, starting with Ohtani’s home run that sparked a four-run rally. Teoscar Hernández and Will Smith contributed with singles before Freddie Freeman’s RBI double drove Fried out of the game.
With the score tied, Andy Pages hit a crucial single off Jonathan Loáisiga to drive in a run, followed by a walk issued to Michael Conforto that brought in another run, handing the Dodgers a 6-5 lead.
Los Angeles extended its advantage in the seventh inning, with Will Smith and Freeman contributing to a two-run single by Pages that added to the scoreboard. Freeman made a thrilling slide at home plate after rounding third aggressively.
In the final inning, Alex Vesia entered the game, recording his second save of the season, securing the win for the Dodgers. Gonsolin’s performance was notable, as he allowed four home runs, just shy of his career-high set in August against Florida.
The match marked the first time these teams faced each other since the Dodgers claimed their eighth World Series title against the Yankees. In a pivotal moment during the eighth inning, Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott managed to retire pinch-hitter DJ LeMahieu with runners on base, alleviating a potential threat from New York.
Looking ahead, the teams prepare for a pivotal matchup as Yankees’ right-hander Will Warren, sporting a 3-2 record and 4.09 ERA, is set to take the mound against Dodgers’ Landon Knack, who holds a record of 2-2 with a 5.22 ERA.
This article was automatically generated by OpenAI, and the individuals, facts, circumstances, and story may be inaccurate. Requests for removal, retraction, or correction of the article can be sent to contact@publiclawlibrary.org.