Shohei Ohtani hit a home run on his bobblehead night and Teoscar Hernandez also went deep as the Los Angeles Dodgers earned a 6-4 victory over the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.
Ohtani added two stolen bases and three runs as the major-league-best Dodgers maintained a three-game lead on the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West.
Ohtani, who reached the 40-homer-40 steals club on Friday, now has 42 in each category with a month remaining to become the first 50-50 player in major league history. He leads the National League in home runs.
Ramon Urias stayed hot for the Orioles with two hits, including a two-run double.
Orioles starter Corbin Burnes allowed six runs (one earned) in five innings due to three errors by his teammates. He permitted five hits and no walks while striking out four. Burnes (12-7), who was the American League’s All-Star Game starter last month, gave up 28 runs, 21 earned, in five starts this month (7.36 ERA).
Baltimore missed out on a chance to tie the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East and remained a game back.
The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead on Ohtani’s leadoff home run.
The Orioles answered with a three-run second inning.
Ryan O’Hearn reached on a one-out throwing error by third baseman Max Muncy to lead off. Cedric Mullins reached base after striking out on a wild pitch as catcher Will Smith threw late to first. Urias followed with his two-run double, and James McCann added an RBI single with two outs.
The Dodgers charged in front with a four-run third inning. Mookie Betts had an RBI single and Hernandez hit a three-run homer, his 28th, for a 5-3 lead.
The teams traded runs in the fifth. O’Hearn hit an RBI double to chase Buehler from the game. In the bottom of the frame, Gunnar Henderson made an error while trying to field a Gavin Lux grounder as Ohtani crossed the plate.
Los Angeles reliever Anthony Banda (2-2) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the win. Michael Kopech pitched a perfect ninth for his 12th save.
Dodgers starter Walker Buehler gave up four runs (two earned) in 4 2/3 innings. He allowed five hits and a walk while fanning four.
–Field Level Media