Shohei Ohtani homers twice as Dodgers sweep Braves with 5-1 win
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani celebrates with third base coach Dino Ebel (91) after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani went 4 for 4 with two home runs, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves, 5-1, on Sunday afternoon to sweep the three-game series.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates with Mookie Betts (50) and Freddie Freeman (5) after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 5, 2024. Betts also scored. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Ohtani launched a hanging curveball from Braves started Max Fried 412 feet over the center field fence for a two-run homer in the first inning. He added a pair of singles in the third and the sixth before leading off the eighth inning with a 464-foot blast off reliever A.J. Minter deep into the left center field bleachers.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani reacts after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 5, 2024. Mookie Betts also scored. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
“He just keeps doing things that we just hadn’t seen haven’t seen before,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “That’s deep. People don’t hit the ball out there, whether you’re left-handed or right-handed.”
It was Ohtani’s first multihomer game with the Dodgers and the 17th of his career. His four hits also tied a career high. He is now tied for the major league lead with 10 home runs this season.
“I just feel like we’re overall playing really well,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “So that’s really helping me have quality at-bats. Just feeling good overall.”
Teoscar Hernandez added a two-run homer and James Paxton took a shutout into the seventh inning for the Dodgers. Paxton (4-0) finished with 6 2/3 innings pitched, five hits and one run allowed, two walks and three strikeouts to remain unbeaten on the season.
Paxton retired 16 of his first 18 batters to open the game and delivered his longest start since June 30 with Boston.
“I felt great,” Paxton said. “I finally felt some rhythm out there. I’ve been working hard between games here trying to figure it out. Just feels good to make some progress.”
Marcell Ozuna homered for the Braves, who have lost five of their last six. Fried (2-1) pitched seven innings, allowed four hits and four runs, walked three and struck out seven.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 5, 2024. Mookie Betts also scored. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Braves have scored three runs or less in six of their last eight games. They didn’t advance a runner past first base until Ozuna’s homer in the seventh.
“We’re in a little bit of an offensive rut, that’s all there is to it,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s one of those things where if we only go through it one time this year, we’ll be lucky.”
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) singles during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Blake Treinen pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Dodgers in his first appearance since the 2022 postseason. Michael Grove retired the side in order in the ninth to wrap up the sweep.
Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: RHP Evan Phillips was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Saturday, with a right hamstring strain. Treinen was activated from the 15-day IL after missing the start of the season with a bruised lung and fractured ribs.
UP NEXT
Braves: RHP Reynaldo Lopez (2-1, 1.50 ERA) starts the opener of a two-game series against Boston on Tuesday.
Dodgers: RHP Walker Buehler (0-0, 0.00) makes his first start since June 2022 in the opener of a three-game series against Miami on Monday.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is out at second ahead of a throw to Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia, right, during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 5, 2024. Freddie Freeman grounded in to a force out. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández (37) celebrates with Max Muncy, second from right, and Mookie Betts (50) after hitting a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández hits a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, right, celebrates with third base coach Matt Tuiasosopo (89) after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)