Shohei Ohtani showcased an impressive pitching performance with no runs allowed in his second start. Hyeseong Kim also displayed that he is suited for the starting lineup.

The Los Angeles Dodgers achieved a comeback victory against the Washington Nationals, winning 13-7 in a game held on the 23rd at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, USA (Korea time). The Dodgers marked a record of 48 wins and 31 losses. Hyeseong Kim, starting for the first time in three games, performed well with 1 hit in 3 at-bats and 1 run scored. Ohtani started and drove in 5 runs with a triple and a home run.

The starting pitcher that day was Ohtani. He also led off. The starting lineup consisted of Ohtani (designated hitter and pitcher), Mookie Betts (shortstop), Freddie Freeman (first baseman), Max Muncy (third baseman), Andy Pahes (right fielder), Tommy Edman (second baseman), Hyeseong Kim (center fielder), Michael Conforto (left fielder), and Dalton rushing (catcher).

Ohtani's second pitching appearance with the Dodgers. After undergoing elbow surgery in September 2023, Ohtani entered rehabilitation. He focused solely on hitting after signing a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers last year. His return as a pitcher was delayed after suffering a left shoulder injury during the World Series last year.

However, on the 17th, it was suddenly decided that he would return as a pitcher in a game against the San Diego Padres, where he recorded 1 inning, 28 pitches, 2 hits, and 1 earned run before leaving the mound. His highest speed reached 100.2 mph (161.3 km/h). After his first appearance, he was also at the center of two beanball incidents against San Diego. On the 18th, he was hit on the right thigh by a 93.8 mph fastball from Randy Vasquez, and on the 20th, he was hit on the back by a 100 mph fastball from Robert Suárez, leading to tense situations. However, Ohtani showed maturity by preventing further bench-clearing incidents. Although his body was covered in bruises, he did not give up his intention to start.

Ohtani faced the first batter, CJ Abrams, in the first inning, throwing a fastball at 97.2 mph to induce a ground ball out to the first baseman. Against the second batter, James Wood, he alternated between a sweeper and a splitter, seemingly inducing a pop-up. However, the high pop-up was missed by shortstop Mookie Betts, resulting in an error and allowing the runner to advance.

With one out and runners on first and second, Luis Garcia Jr. faced Ohtani, who threw an 85.9 mph sweeper for the fifth pitch at 2 balls and 2 strikes, striking him out with a swinging strike. This marked Ohtani's first strikeout since returning as a pitcher. It had been 669 days since his last strikeout on Aug. 24, 2023, against the Cincinnati Reds while with the Los Angeles Angels. With two outs and a runner on first, Ohtani committed a wild pitch, creating a two-out, runner on second situation. However, he struck out Nathaniel Lowe on the seventh pitch with an 88.3 mph cutter for a swinging strike. Ohtani ended the first inning without allowing any runs with two consecutive strikeouts.

From the second inning, the mound was handed over to Ben Kasparius. He left the mound after recording 1 inning, 18 pitches, 2 strikeouts, and no earned runs. He threw a total of 18 pitches, including 7 sweepers, 6 fastballs, 3 cutters, and 2 splitters. The highest speed recorded for his fastball was 98.8 mph (159 km/h).

Hyeseong Kim has had sporadic game opportunities. In the game against the San Diego Padres on the 20th, he recorded 1 hit in 4 at-bats with 1 RBI, but was excluded from the starting lineup for both games against Washington afterward. He was excluded from the starting lineup on the 21st game due to facing left-hander Mackenzie Gore and appeared only as a defensive substitute in the top of the 9th inning. In the game on the 22nd, he was also excluded from the starting lineup against right-hander Jake Irvin and did not step on the field. This marked his first starting appearance in the Washington series and his first start in three games.

The starting pitcher for Washington that day was Michael Soroka. Soroka has recorded a record of 3 wins and 5 losses with an earned run average of 5.06 over 9 games and 48 innings this season.

That day, Hyeseong Kim found himself at the center of an unfortunate moment in center field defense during the top of the 3rd inning. With two outs and runners on first and second, he chased down a large hit from Nathaniel Lowe deep into left-center. He jumped at the wall, but the ball hit Kim's glove and fell. It was initially ruled a double. However, a replay review showed that the ball had hit Kim's glove, then touched a spectator's hand before entering the ground. Ultimately, it was ruled a home run after the review, assisting in Kim's home run.

In his first at-bat in the bottom of the 3rd inning, he swung and missed at an 81.6 mph slider from Soroka, resulting in a strikeout. In his second at-bat in the bottom of the 5th after two outs, Hyeseong Kim properly hit Soroka's 94.2 mph fastball during a 2-ball hitting count. The ball went towards left-center, resulting in a double. This marked the Dodgers' first hit of the day, demonstrating that he is suited for the starting lineup.

In his third at-bat in the bottom of the 7th inning, he faced Ryan Lutz. After one ball and one strike, he hit an 87.6 mph slider for a hard hit towards the second baseman (with an exit velocity of 95.7 mph, 154 km/h). However, Washington's second baseman Luis Garcia Jr. bobbled the ball as Kim rushed to first base. He reached base due to the second baseman's error. Following this, with a hit by Michael Conforto and a walk from Dalton Rushing, a no-out, bases-loaded opportunity was created, and Ohtani hit a 3-RBI triple, touching home.

In his fourth at-bat, he faced a no-out situation with two outs in the bottom of the 7th inning. Against Cole Henry, he swung at a 95.7 mph fastball on the second pitch after one ball but was retired on a pop-up to left field.

That day, the Dodgers were thoroughly suppressed by Washington's starting pitcher, Michael Soroka. They were so silent that Hyeseong Kim's first hit came in the 5th inning. However, starting from the bottom of the 6th inning, they exploded. The lead-off batter, Dalton Rushing, hit a double down the left field line, followed by Ohtani's walk and a hit by Freddie Freeman, creating a bases-loaded situation with one out. Soroka was taken off the mound.

Max Muncy then hit a grand slam home run against reliever José Ferrer, instantly turning the game around to 4-3. In the bottom of the 7th inning, with Kim's error, Michael Conforto's left-single and Dalton Rushing's walk, they created a no-out, bases-loaded situation, and with Ohtani's 3-RBI triple, the gap widened to 7-3. After that, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman hit consecutive hits to create a no-out, first and second base situation, and Max Muncy hit a three-run home run to seal the game. Muncy finished the game with 7 RBIs.

Additionally, in the 8th inning, with one out and a runner on first, Ohtani hit a two-run home run over the left-center field. This marked his 26th home run and completed a game with 5 RBIs.

[OSEN]