Shohei Ohtani Hits Go-Ahead Two-Run Home Run After Surrendering Leadoff Blast to Fellow All-Star Byron Buxton in Dodgers Victory
It was a night of star power, redemption, and fireworks at Dodger Stadium as Shohei Ohtani once again reminded the baseball world why he is the most captivating figure in the game. After surrendering a leadoff home run to fellow All-Star Byron Buxton in the top of the first inning—a moment that briefly stunned the home crowd—Ohtani responded the best way he knows how: with his bat. In the bottom half of the inning, he launched a go-ahead two-run homer that ignited the Dodgers and helped power them to a crucial victory in a season packed with postseason aspirations.
This game had all the drama, excitement, and elite-level talent fans could ask for. On the mound, Ohtani was tested early. Byron Buxton, leading off the game for the opposing team, jumped on a first-pitch fastball and drove it into the left-field bleachers. The home run had an exit velocity of 109 mph and traveled an estimated 417 feet. It was a classic Buxton swing—quick hands, explosive torque, and raw power. And for a brief moment, it silenced the Dodger faithful. Ohtani, never one to show frustration, simply nodded, reset, and went back to work.
The first inning could have unraveled. Instead, Ohtani struck out the next two batters and induced a soft groundout to end the frame. His command returned immediately, and his signature composure was on full display. That ability to recover is part of what separates good players from great ones—and Ohtani is in a league of his own.
Then came the bottom of the first. After a leadoff single by Mookie Betts, Ohtani stepped to the plate facing a pitcher who, moments ago, had staked his team to a 1-0 lead. On a 2-1 count, Ohtani crushed a hanging slider and sent it into the night sky—high, majestic, and undeniably gone. The ball soared 441 feet to right-center field with an exit velocity of 114.1 mph. In just one swing, the Dodgers were ahead 2-1, and the stadium erupted.
It was a poetic turn of events. The same man who allowed the opening blow had delivered a counterpunch even more devastating. That’s what makes Ohtani so unique—he has the ability to influence a game from both sides of the ball, something no other player in the league can truly replicate. His home run wasn’t just a momentum shift; it was a statement.
From there, Ohtani settled into a groove on the mound. He retired the next 11 batters he faced, mixing his high-90s fastball with a sweeping slider and an occasionally devastating splitter. Buxton’s homer turned out to be the only run he would allow through five innings, striking out seven and walking just one. It wasn’t a no-hitter or a complete game, but it was a gutsy, efficient, and poised outing—exactly what the Dodgers needed as they try to build momentum into the late summer.
Offensively, the Dodgers didn’t stop with Ohtani’s blast. Will Smith doubled in the fourth and scored on a Max Muncy RBI single to stretch the lead to 3-1. In the fifth, Freddie Freeman added an RBI double, making it 4-1, and it felt like the Dodgers were in full control. Every inning, they seemed to pressure the opposing pitcher, grinding out at-bats, taking walks, and capitalizing on mistakes.
Ohtani was removed after five strong innings, having thrown 85 pitches. The decision was part of a carefully managed workload plan by the Dodgers, who are prioritizing his health and effectiveness as both a pitcher and hitter down the stretch. Even in abbreviated starts, Ohtani continues to deliver ace-level results.
Once Ohtani exited, the bullpen held firm. Evan Phillips pitched a scoreless sixth, striking out two with his typical mix of velocity and deception. In the seventh, Alex Vesia faced a tough stretch of lefties and navigated it with precision. Ryan Brasier pitched the eighth, and the Dodgers went to their closer for the ninth to seal the deal.
Buxton, for his part, finished with two hits and a stolen base. His leadoff home run served as a reminder of his own immense talent, speed, and explosiveness. When healthy, Buxton is one of the most dynamic players in the league. His battle with Ohtani—two All-Stars trading highlights—was the kind of showdown baseball fans live for.
But this night belonged to Ohtani.
His go-ahead home run in the first not only flipped the scoreboard but energized the entire roster. After the game, manager Dave Roberts praised Ohtani’s leadership and his ability to rebound from adversity. “What Shohei did tonight says everything about who he is as a competitor,” Roberts said. “He gives up a homer, then comes right back and hits one to give us the lead. That’s special.”
Teammates echoed the sentiment. “It’s hard to put into words what he means to this team,” said Freddie Freeman. “You see it every day—how he prepares, how he never lets anything rattle him. That’s a true superstar.”
Ohtani, as always, was humble in his postgame remarks. Speaking through his interpreter, he downplayed the personal drama of the leadoff homer. “It’s part of the game,” he said. “You give one up, you try to get it back. I’m just glad I could help the team.”
With the win, the Dodgers improved their record to 65-38, strengthening their lead in the National League West and moving one step closer to securing home-field advantage in the postseason. Every game matters, and Ohtani’s presence—both on the mound and in the lineup—is helping the Dodgers reach their peak at the right time.
Statistically, Ohtani continues to chase history. With the home run, he reached 31 on the season, tied for second in the National League. His ERA dropped to 2.88, and his strikeout-to-walk ratio remains among the best in the league. If he can maintain both his pitching and hitting excellence, he’ll remain a frontrunner for the National League MVP, an award that would further cement his legacy as a generational player.
There’s also the storyline of redemption and resilience. Ohtani’s 2024 season was cut short by injury, and questions lingered during the offseason about how he would bounce back—especially after joining the Dodgers on a historic contract. Thus far, he has answered every doubt emphatically. He is not only healthy, but thriving—leading, dominating, and carrying the Dodgers in key moments.
And moments like these—giving up a homer and then immediately responding with a game-changing swing—are why fans pack stadiums just to watch him play. It’s rare. It’s thrilling. It’s baseball at its most compelling.
The Dodgers now turn their attention to the next series, hoping to continue their winning ways and keep the roster healthy as they move toward September. For Ohtani, the mission is the same as always: pitch well, hit better, and lead by example.
And for baseball fans, nights like this one are a gift—a reminder of how beautiful and unpredictable the game can be when its brightest stars are at their best. Shohei Ohtani didn’t just respond to adversity—he rewrote the narrative of the game in a matter of minutes, the way only he can.
