Ohtani Dominates in Dodgers Mound Debut

Shohei Ohtani pitched six shutout innings in his first start of the season, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night. The game was played under drizzly conditions at Dodger Stadium.

Pitching Performance and Key Moments

Ohtani allowed only a two-out double to Rhys Hoskins in the fourth inning. He finished with six strikeouts and three walks, throwing 87 pitches, 54 of which were strikes. This was Ohtani’s first outing in 150 days, since starting Game 7 of the World Series against Toronto.

Dodgers Offense Contributes

Max Muncy hit his first home run of the season, a 410-foot solo shot in the sixth inning, extending the Dodgers’ lead. Los Angeles added two more runs in the eighth inning with RBI singles from Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages.

Early Lead and Late Relief

Andy Pages’ RBI single in the fourth inning gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead, marking the first time this season they’ve scored first. Edwin Díaz pitched the ninth inning, allowing an RBI single to Brayan Rocchio in a non-save situation.

Ohtani at the Plate and Game Details

At the plate, Ohtani went 1 for 3 with a strikeout and two walks, extending his on-base streak to 36 games, dating back to August 24, 2025. The Dodgers needed the win to avoid their first series loss in March since 2018, after dropping the series opener 4-2.

Adjustments During the Game

A fresh rosin bag was brought to the mound in the fifth inning as light rain began to fall. The grounds crew also worked on Ohtani’s landing spot after his third walk, removing dirt lodged in his spikes.

Upcoming Matchup

Cleveland RHP Gavin Williams is scheduled to start the series finale on Wednesday against Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, marking the third consecutive start for a Japan-born pitcher for Los Angeles.