Shohei Ohtani's Historic First-Inning Homer Powers Dodgers Past Twins 5-2

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025

LOS ANGELES – In a thrilling Monday night matchup on July 21, 2025, at 9:10 PM, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Minnesota Twins 5-2 at Dodger Stadium. The victory was largely powered by a remarkable two-way performance from Shohei Ohtani and a crucial offensive surge that helped the NL West leaders snap a challenging six-game home losing streak.

The game started with an immediate response from the Dodgers after Minnesota's Byron Buxton launched a leadoff home run off Ohtani's second pitch of the game. However, Ohtani quickly answered back, hitting a go-ahead two-run homer of his own to center field, a 441-foot blast, after Mookie Betts walked. This marked Ohtani's third consecutive game with a home run.

The Dodgers extended their lead with additional power from their lineup. Will Smith went deep twice off Twins pitcher David Festa (3-4), hitting a two-strike homer to center in the fourth and later adding a 435-foot shot to left that pushed the score to 4-1. Andy Pages contributed with a solo shot off reliever Cole Sands.

On the mound, Ohtani pitched three innings, allowing one run on four hits and striking out three. Dustin May (6-6) took over for Ohtani, pitching 4 2/3 innings and giving up five hits, while striking out four and walking three. Kirby Yates closed out the game, securing his third save.

Freddie Freeman was in the Dodgers' lineup, going 1 for 4 with a strikeout, a day after being hit by a pitch on his left wrist in Sunday's loss to Milwaukee.

Key Moment

Minnesota shortstop Carlos Correa went 0 for 5, facing heavy boos from Dodgers fans, still resentful over the 2017 World Series. In the ninth inning, James Outman made a crucial play, robbing Correa of a potential game-tying home run at the center field wall.

Key Stat

Shohei Ohtani made history by becoming the first pitcher to give up a home run and hit a home run in the first inning of the same game since Randy Lerch of Philadelphia achieved the feat on May 17, 1979, in a high-scoring 23-22 win over the Chicago Cubs.

Up Next

The series continues Tuesday with Twins right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson (5-4, 3.95 ERA) scheduled to start against Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-7, 2.59).

In summary

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Minnesota Twins 5-2 on July 21, 2025, snapping a six-game home losing streak. Shohei Ohtani showcased his two-way talent, hitting a go-ahead two-run homer and pitching three innings after giving up a leadoff blast. Will Smith added two solo home runs, and Andy Pages contributed another. Dustin May earned the win in relief, and Kirby Yates secured the save. The game featured a notable defensive play by James Outman, robbing Carlos Correa of a potential game-tying homer in the ninth, and Ohtani achieved a rare statistical feat of hitting and allowing a home run in the same first inning.

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