Shohei Ohtani Crushes League-Leading 20th Homer as Dodgers Overpower Cleveland Guardians in a Thrilling 9-5 Victory on the Road

Shohei Ohtani added another chapter to his growing legacy on a warm May night in Cleveland, launching his league-leading 20th home run to power the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 9-5 win over the Cleveland Guardians. In front of a raucous crowd at Progressive Field, Ohtani’s bat spoke volumes yet again, reinforcing his status as the face of baseball and the driving force behind the Dodgers’ current surge through the National League.

Ohtani’s moonshot in the top of the fifth inning wasn’t just another home run—it was a towering blast that cleared the centerfield wall with ease, a 448-foot statement of strength, precision, and timing. It was the moment that shifted the energy in the ballpark, lifting the Dodgers from a brief scoring lull and pushing them ahead for good.

With the game knotted at 4-4 after the Guardians clawed their way back into the contest, Ohtani stepped to the plate against Cleveland starter Logan Allen. After fouling off a pair of fastballs and taking a close pitch low for ball one, Ohtani uncoiled on a hanging curveball and sent it deep into the Ohio sky. The crowd’s collective gasp turned into quiet awe as the ball sailed into the seats, giving Los Angeles a 6-4 lead and once again underscoring why Ohtani remains one of the most electrifying players in the sport.

For Ohtani, it marked another milestone in a season that continues to build toward something historic. Not only did the blast make him the first player to reach the 20-homer plateau this year, but it also came as part of a three-hit night. He finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs, a stolen base, and two runs scored, putting on a clinic of athleticism that few in the league can match.

While Ohtani grabbed the headlines, the Dodgers’ offensive effort was more than a one-man show. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman each contributed with timely hits, and Gavin Lux delivered a crucial two-run double in the sixth to extend the Dodgers’ lead. The lineup combined for 13 hits and worked eight walks off Guardians pitchers, displaying the type of patience and power that has defined Dave Roberts’ squad in recent weeks.

On the mound, right-hander Gavin Stone got the start for Los Angeles. He was solid but not spectacular, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits over five innings. Stone battled some early command issues but worked out of several jams to keep the game within reach before the Dodgers’ offense took control. He earned the win—his fifth of the season—thanks in large part to the explosive fifth inning that turned the tide in L.A.’s favor.

Cleveland, to its credit, didn’t go down without a fight. José Ramírez continued his strong campaign with a three-hit night of his own, including a solo homer in the third that briefly gave the Guardians the lead. Josh Naylor added two RBIs, and Steven Kwan reached base three times, but the bullpen couldn’t keep the Dodgers off the board late, and the offense ran out of answers.

For Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, it was a frustrating loss that nonetheless showed some resilience from his team. “We battled back,” Vogt said after the game. “We responded when we were down early, and I thought we put ourselves in a good spot. But that lineup is relentless, and when you’ve got a guy like Ohtani doing what he’s doing—it’s tough to hold them down.”

Indeed, Ohtani’s impact is reverberating far beyond Los Angeles. Since signing a record-setting deal with the Dodgers this offseason, the two-way superstar has been everything the team could have hoped for—and then some. Though his pitching has been sidelined for the year due to injury recovery, his bat has picked up all the slack and more. His 20 home runs lead all of Major League Baseball, and he’s near the top of the leaderboard in RBIs, slugging percentage, and OPS. More importantly, he’s energized a Dodgers team that seems to be finding its stride as the summer months approach.

“It’s hard to describe the kind of energy Shohei brings to this team,” Roberts said postgame. “He’s not just a great player—he’s a leader, and he plays the game the right way. He’s doing things we haven’t seen in a long time, maybe ever. It’s a joy to watch, and it’s a huge boost for everyone in this clubhouse.”

The Dodgers are now 34-22 and have opened up a comfortable lead in the NL West, a division they were expected to dominate but have faced stiff competition in early on. With Ohtani leading the charge and players like Betts and Freeman providing their usual steady presence, the team seems poised for a sustained run of success. Their offense is deep, their rotation is beginning to round into form, and their bullpen, while occasionally shaky, has enough firepower to close out games when needed.

Ohtani’s homer was also emblematic of the kind of power surge that the Dodgers have experienced as a group over the past few weeks. Since mid-May, Los Angeles leads the majors in home runs, and their lineup continues to be a nightmare for opposing pitchers. Even when the big names don’t deliver, role players like Lux, James Outman, and Miguel Rojas have chipped in with timely hits and solid defense.

The buzz around Ohtani’s individual performance, though, is starting to grow louder by the day. With each passing week, MVP chants grow stronger, and the comparisons to historic seasons of the past become more and more frequent. If he keeps up this pace, Ohtani could be on track for his most prolific offensive season yet—and one that could go down as one of the most remarkable in modern MLB history, even without his pitching contributions.

Cleveland, now sitting at 30-25, remains very much in the hunt in the AL Central. With Ramírez playing at an All-Star level and a rotation led by Tanner Bibee and Triston McKenzie, there’s reason to believe the Guardians can contend down the stretch. However, they’ll need more consistency from their bullpen and better execution in key moments against elite teams like the Dodgers.

As for the fans in Cleveland, while they left the park disappointed with the final score, many couldn’t help but admire what they had witnessed. Ohtani’s homer drew cheers even from the home crowd, a recognition of the greatness that had just unfolded before their eyes.

“It’s not often you see someone do what he just did,” said one fan as he exited the stadium. “I mean, you hear about him all the time, but when you actually see it in person—it’s just different. He’s a superstar, no question.”

That’s the kind of impact Shohei Ohtani has, not just on the scoreboard, but on the spirit of the game itself. He bridges fanbases, captures imaginations, and delivers unforgettable moments. And on this particular night in Cleveland, he reminded everyone why he’s not just the face of the Dodgers—but of baseball as a whole.

Looking ahead, the Dodgers will continue their road trip with a three-game set against the New York Mets, another chance for Ohtani and his teammates to showcase their firepower against a team desperate to get back into the playoff picture. If Ohtani continues his current trajectory, it’s not hard to imagine more fireworks in store. For now, though, Dodgers fans—and baseball fans everywhere—can revel in yet another awe-inspiring performance from the most captivating player in the game.

In the long grind of a 162-game season, moments like these stand out: a long home run, a clutch swing, a spark that ignites a team. Shohei Ohtani delivered all of that and more on this night, and in doing so, he reaffirmed what many already knew—that when it comes to defining excellence in today’s game, the conversation starts and ends with him.