UPDATE: The Los Angeles Dodgers snapped a desperate five-game losing streak, thanks to a sensational performance by Shohei Ohtani, who hit two home runs in a crucial 5-2 victory against the Baltimore Orioles on September 24, 2023. Coming off a heartbreaking defeat, the Dodgers needed an immediate spark, and Ohtani delivered right from the start, launching the second pitch of the game into the right-field seats.
The Dodgers, struggling to regain their momentum on a challenging East Coast trip, found redemption through Ohtani’s explosive batting. His first home run marked his 48th of the season, and he later added another solo shot in the third inning. Manager Dave Roberts emphasized the importance of Ohtani’s early homer, stating,
“You could see the life in the dugout.”
Just 24 hours earlier, the Dodgers were on the verge of a no-hitter against them, having lost 4-3 in a crushing ninth-inning collapse. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was one out away from achieving a no-hitter when a home run by Jackson Holliday ignited a four-run rally for the Orioles. The Dodgers’ struggles included three consecutive losses to the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates, culminating in a five-game slide that had left the team reeling.
Pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who struck out eight batters over 5 2/3 innings, noted the unusual nature of their recent defeats. “It’s not something you get used to, but when it does happen, baseball’s not as much fun,” he stated. The Dodgers needed a confidence boost, and Ohtani’s performance provided just that.
Kershaw emphasized the significance of scoring early, saying,
“Anytime you get on the board early, it’s huge. It was a good reset from last night.”
The Dodgers now return home still holding onto first place in the NL West, with Ohtani not only contributing offensively—he also walked three times—but also setting the tone for the team’s revival.
Mookie Betts added to the excitement with a home run of his own, while Roberts praised the overall team’s energy. “Across the board, I liked the energy and I liked the way we played,” he remarked, highlighting the contributions from even the lower end of the lineup.
The victory was a much-needed boost as the Dodgers gear up for their return to Los Angeles, with Roberts expressing pride in his team’s resilience. “There was no panic. Our guys weren’t downtrodden,” he said. “We were looking forward to playing and winning a game. That’s a tell that we have confidence still in the room.”
As the Dodgers move forward, Ohtani’s standout performance will surely be a highlight as they aim to build on this momentum. With the playoffs approaching, every win counts, and this victory could be the turning point they desperately needed.
