Shohei Ohtani delivered his 20th home run of the season on Tuesday night, helping propel the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 9-5 victory over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. With the win, the Dodgers clinched the three-game series and extended the Guardians’ losing streak to three games.
Heading into the game, the Dodgers were slight road favorites with most oddsmakers listing them at -135 on the moneyline, while the Guardians were posted at around +115. The run total was set at 8.5 and comfortably hit the over, with the teams combining for 14 runs.
Ohtani’s fourth-inning home run came off a cutter from Guardians starter Tanner Bibee and cleared the left-field fence to extend Los Angeles’ lead to 4-0. The long ball was Ohtani’s third in as many games, marking the second time this season and the tenth time in his MLB career that he has homered in three consecutive contests. Since arriving from Japan in 2018, Ohtani has become known for producing power surges, and he continues to lead all of Major League Baseball in home runs this season.
Michael Conforto and Max Muncy also contributed with home runs in the Dodgers’ offensive effort. Muncy’s three-run shot in the top of the ninth off Guardians reliever Nic Enright pushed the lead to 9-3, providing a cushion as Cleveland attempted a late rally. Enright was making just his second major league appearance. The right-hander, who overcame Hodgkin lymphoma after being diagnosed in 2022, was added to the Guardians’ roster last weekend.
Dustin May won for Los Angeles, improving to 3-4 on the season. The right-hander posted a season-best nine strikeouts and surrendered three runs over five innings of work. He managed to pitch out of multiple early-inning threats and kept Cleveland’s offense contained for the most part until the bullpen took over.
Bibee, now 4-5, was charged with the loss. He allowed four earned runs in his outing, including the pivotal home run to Ohtani, which heavily swung the game’s momentum in the Dodgers’ favor. The right-hander struggled to keep Dodgers hitters off balance through the middle innings and exited with the Guardians trailing.
Cleveland’s most significant offensive highlight came in the fourth inning when Daniel Schneemann connected for a three-run home run, briefly trimming the deficit. José Ramírez extended his hitting streak to 20 games with a single during the frame, making it the longest active streak in the majors.
Ohtani became just the third player in Dodgers franchise history to reach 20 home runs within the first 55 games of a season, joining Gil Hodges (21 in 1951) and Cody Bellinger (20 in 2019). The reigning National League MVP continues to be a key factor in the Dodgers’ early-season success.
Veteran left-hander Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to make his third season start for Los Angeles in the series finale. Kershaw holds a 7.50 ERA as he works his way back into form. The Guardians have delayed the scheduled start of right-hander Slade Cecconi due to right groin tightness, with an alternative starter expected to be announced.
