Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers) marked his fifth two-way appearance of the season, surpassing his previous high of two innings to pitch three innings. In a highly anticipated two-way matchup against Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco Giants), he struggled, issuing straight walks.
Ohtani participated as a starting pitcher and leadoff hitter in the second game of a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, on the 13th (Korea time), recording three innings, one hit, one walk, four strikeouts, and no earned runs.
After a week since his appearance against the Houston Astros on the 6th (two innings with no earned runs), Ohtani returned to two-way play. In the bottom of the first inning, he struck out Mike Yastrzemski, Heliot Ramos, and Rafael Devers, showcasing his powerful pitching. Yastrzemski swung and missed on a fastball at 98.9 mph (159 km/h), Ramos on a fastball at 99.9 mph (160 km/h), and Ohtani used a slider at 89.7 mph (144 km/h) as his deciding pitch against Devers.
With a one-run lead in the bottom of the second inning, he retired leadoff hitter Matt Chapman on a ground ball to shortstop. After a first-pitch strike, he induced a ground ball with a second pitch at 82.5 mph (132 km/h) sweeper. He then faced Willy Adames and threw a third pitch at 83.5 mph (134 km/h) sweeper on a 1B-1S count, which was caught for a foul out by the third baseman. Against Lee Jung-hoo, his control wavered significantly, and he issued a straight walk, but he ended the inning by catching Casey Schmidt for a pop-up to shortstop in two pitches.
In the top of the third inning, still ahead 1-0, Ohtani took the mound again, retiring leadoff hitter Dominic Smith on a foul fly to third base and Patrick Bailey on a looking strikeout. He quickly tallied two outs. His ability to manage speed using both fastballs and breaking balls stood out. Against Yastrzemski, he recorded his first hit allowed, a single to right field on a cutter at 93.7 mph (150 km/h) on a 2B-1S count, but retired Ramos on a pop-up to center field in two pitches. End of the inning.
Ohtani handed the baton to Emmitt Sheehan in the bottom of the fourth inning, leading 1-0. He threw 36 pitches (25 strikes). After hitting his 32nd home run the previous day, he showcased cartoon-like baseball by pitching a season-high three innings and lowered his earned run average from 1.50 to 1.00.
Meanwhile, as a batter, Ohtani recorded a ground ball to first base in the top of the first inning and a ground ball to second base in the top of the third inning. He continues to step up to the plate as a designated hitter.
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