The Los Angeles Dodgers ended a six-game home losing streak with a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night at Dodger Stadium, powered by Shohei Ohtani’s two-run homer in the first inning and two solo blasts from catcher Will Smith. The victory provided a rebound for the National League West leaders following a weekend sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Dodgers entered the matchup as -160 favorites on the moneyline, while the Twins were underdogs at approximately +135. The over/under for total runs was set at 8.5, a figure that held with seven total runs scored.
Minnesota struck quickly in the top of the first inning when Byron Buxton, leading off for the Twins, launched a home run to left field off Ohtani’s second pitch. The Dodgers responded in the bottom half of the inning. After Mookie Betts drew a walk, Ohtani sent a 441-foot home run to center field, putting Los Angeles ahead 2-1. It marked Ohtani’s third consecutive game with a home run and added to his total of 35 for the season.
Smith expanded the lead with a pair of home runs off Twins starter David Festa, who fell to 3-4 on the year. Smith’s first homer came in the fourth inning on a two-strike pitch, and his second — a 435-foot shot to left field — increased the Dodgers’ lead to 4-1. Andy Pages added a solo home run off Minnesota reliever Cole Sands in the sixth inning, providing additional breathing room for the Dodgers’ bullpen.
Ohtani, starting on the mound, pitched three innings and gave up one run on four hits. He struck out three and did not issue a walk before being replaced by right-hander Dustin May. May earned the win, improving to 6-6 on the season, after pitching 4 2/3 innings in relief. He allowed five hits, walked three, and struck out four before handing the ball off to Kirby Yates, who recorded the final four outs to earn his third save.
Minnesota managed just two runs on 10 hits, leaving several scoring opportunities unconverted. Their second run came in the eighth inning, but they were unable to build further momentum. Twins shortstop Carlos Correa went hitless in five at-bats and was repeatedly booed by the home crowd, a lingering reaction to his role in the 2017 Houston Astros team that defeated the Dodgers in the World Series. In the ninth inning, Correa nearly tied the game with a deep drive to center field, but James Outman made a leaping catch at the wall to preserve the Dodgers’ lead.
Freddie Freeman returned to the Dodgers’ lineup after being hit by a pitch on his wrist the previous day. He went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
The two teams continue their three-game series on Tuesday. Minnesota will start right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson (5-4, 3.95 ERA), while Los Angeles counters with Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-7, 2.59 ERA).
