Shohei Ohtani hits two homers, collects four hits as Dodgers sweep Braves

LOS ANGELES — When the Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani this winter, they may simply dream of the monstrous homers and the large moments he would produce at Dodger Stadium over the course of the subsequent decade. That’s why they believed he was well worth the historic $700 million deal.

On Sunday, Ohtani racked up his first multihomer sport and four-hit sport since becoming a member of the group in December, and he did it in type. Ohtani’s second homer within the Dodgers’ 5-1 win over the Braves to wrap up a three-game sweep at Dodger Stadium was a no-doubter that traveled a Statcast-projected 464 ft and had an exit velocity of 110.6 mph.

The 464-foot blast was the longest for Ohtani this season and the second longest within the Majors in 2024 behind solely his former teammate Mike Trout, who had a 473-foot blast with the Angels. It was additionally the third-longest homer of Ohtani’s profession, and third longest at Dodger Stadium since Statcast monitoring started in 2015.

“He simply retains doing issues that we haven’t seen earlier than,” stated Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts. “That’s deep. Individuals don’t hit the ball on the market [in left-center field]. Whether or not you’re right-handed or left-handed, day sport, night time sport. He actually acquired into that one.”

Whereas Ohtani’s second homer was the longest and loudest of the afternoon, his first blast was the one which jumpstarted the Dodgers’ offense in opposition to left-hander Max Fried, who got here into Sunday’s begin on a 15-inning scoreless streak.

Ohtani battled again into the rely till lastly benefiting from a dangling curveball from the Atlanta ace. The 2-time unanimous American League Most Precious Participant launched it into middle area to provide the Dodgers a 2-0 lead that they’d by no means relinquish.

With the 4-for-4 efficiency on Sunday, Ohtani is now 11-for-21 with three homers throughout his present five-game hitting streak. He additionally turned the primary Dodgers participant since a minimum of 1901 to document 25 extra-base hits in his first 35 video games with the group.

“I simply really feel like we’re general taking part in very well,” Ohtani stated by way of interpreter Will Ireton. “In order that’s actually serving to me have high quality at-bats and simply feeling good general.”

Now with Ohtani within the fold, there aren’t many regular-season sequence that may maintain vital that means for the Dodgers. The fact is, this Dodgers season will finally be declared a hit or failure based mostly on what occurs in October. The membership has made it clear that it’s championship or bust.

However within the build-up to the drama that may undoubtedly unfold in October, there are some sequence that may function a litmus check throughout the common season. The Dodgers handed that with flying colours these previous three video games, outscoring the Braves 20-6 in what was a dominant sweep in all areas.

“Enjoying in opposition to a very good crew, with us having the ability to pitch nicely in opposition to a very good offensive crew,” Ohtani stated, “was actually necessary for us.”

Ohtani is correct. Whereas the lengthy homers often steal the present, it was the Dodgers’ pitching employees that led the way in which over the weekend. On Sunday, it was James Paxton’s flip to ship his greatest begin as a Dodger, permitting only one run and hanging out three over 6 2/3 innings.

Paxton has had a shaky begin to the season, largely due to his command. He gathered three or extra walks in 4 of his first 5 begins. In opposition to the Braves, it was apparent from the primary pitch that Paxton had a significantly better really feel of his pitches, serving to his general command.

“It felt nice,” Paxton stated. “I lastly discovered some rhythm on the market. We’ve been working exhausting right here in between video games attempting to determine it out, and it simply feels good to make some progress.”

If the Dodgers can get Paxton again on observe, they may possess among the best rotations within the Nationwide League. Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are beginning to give the membership all the things it wished once they had been acquired this winter. Gavin Stone has been spectacular his previous few begins, together with Friday in opposition to Atlanta. Then there’s Walker Buehler, who will return from Tommy John surgical procedure restoration on Monday in opposition to the Marlins to make his first begin since 2022.

In each method, the Dodgers are taking part in just like the crew most anticipated this winter. Having Ohtani, arguably the sport’s most feared slugger, might additionally show to be the distinction this season.

The Braves came upon the exhausting method this weekend.