Monday, June 16, 2025

Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2025

On a beautiful Monday night at Dodger Stadium, Shohei Ohtani returned to the mound. He led the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-to-3 victory over the San  Diego Padres. He pitched well for one inning and had two hits, which drove in two runs. Anthony Banda, Ben Casparius, Alex Vesia, Tanner Scott, and Kirby Yates were brilliant. In the third, the Dodgers scored five runs. The Dodgers lengthened their lead over the San Francisco Giants to 2.5 games and 4 games over the Padres.

For the first time as a Los Angeles Dodger, Shohei Ohtani took the mound after 663 days. In September 2023, Ohtani underwent ulnar collateral ligament repair, which might have involved internal bracing. Before coming to the major leagues, many teams wanted Ohtani to be a pitcher only, but Ohtani insisted on continuing his incredible offensive production.

Shohei Ohtani allowed a lead-off single and uncorked a wild pitch to advance the runner to second. He allowed another bloop single to advance Fernando Tatis, Jr, to third. Manny Machado’s sacrifice fly scored Tatis. Ohtani got out of the inning.

Dylan Cease struck out the side against the Dodgers in the first.

Anthony Banda relieved Ohtani in the second and issued a walk with two outs. Ben Casparius relieved Banda with two outs in the second. He retired the last batter of the inning.

After 5 consecutive strikeouts, Max Muncy grounded back to Cease to end the second.

Casparius continued pitching in the third and was perfect.

Andy Pages doubled to begin the third and advanced to third on Tommy Edman’s ground ball. Ohtani doubled in Pages. The Dodgers didn’t score any more.

Casparius continued pitching in the fourth with a tied score. He issued a walk to begin the inning and allowed a run-producing double. He escaped from the inning.

Teoscar Hernández reached on an infield single with one out in the fourth, and Will Smith doubled Hernández to third. Muncy singled in Hernández and Smith. Pages was plunked by a pitch. Edman singled in Muncy and moved Pages to second. Ohtani singled in Pages and moved Edman to third. Mookie Betts singled in Edman and moved Ohtani to third. Betts stole second. The Dodgers didn’t score any more.

Casparius continued pitching in the fifth with a perfect inning.

With two outs in the fifth, Muncy walked, stole second, and went to third on a throwing error. The Dodgers couldn’t capitalize on the scoring opportunity.

Casparius continued pitching in the sixth and allowed a solo home run to Machado to start the inning. He gave up a double.

Alex Vesia relieved Casparius with an out in the sixth and retired the last two hitters of the inning.

With an out in the sixth, Edman reached on a throwing error and was stranded.

Michael Kopech relieved Vesia in the seventh and allowed a single to Tatis with two outs. He retired the next batter.

Freddie Freeman started the seventh with a single. Smith singled and moved Smith to second. The runners were stranded.

Tanner Scott, in relief of Kopech, hurled a perfect eighth.

With two outs in the eighth, Ohtani walked but was left.

Kirby Yates relieved Scott in the ninth and earned the save with a perfect inning.