Shohei Ohtani started his sixth game of the season on Monday night, striking out three batters in three innings pitched. Ohtani surrendered a season-high four hits and allowed his first earned run since his first start back in the middle of June as he allowed a lead-off home run to Byron Buxton.
While he did not earn a decision, the Los Angeles Dodgers did beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2, thanks it part to Shohei Ohtani who hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the 1st.
Facing a 2-1 count with lead-off man Mookie Betts on first, Ohtani crushed a home run to centerfield to give the Dodgers a lead they would never relinquish.
Shohei Ohtani ... #PitchersWhoRake pic.twitter.com/XyotKv4Ltg
— MLB (@MLB) July 22, 2025
Ohtani also threw in a casual, but effective bat flip to celebrate giving himself some early run support.
MUST SEE: This angle of Shohei Ohtani's epic moonshot and bat flip 😳 pic.twitter.com/Nr3jogiFo6
— MLB (@MLB) July 22, 2025
Ohtani has now homered in three straight games to raise his season total to 35. He's fourth in MLB in home runs and just three behind Cal Raleigh who has not hit a home run since the Derby.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Shohei Ohtani Celebrates Home Run With Sweet Bat Flip.
