Dodgers capitalize on another Shohei Ohtani pitching gem to sweep the Twins

MINNEAPOLIS – Shohei Ohtani was not pleased, and his displeasure was obvious.

In his body language when he gave up a hit.

In the way he violently slapped the top of his head to challenge a call.

So after a second inning in which Ohtani was charged with three runs, he made a change. He started calling his own pitches using the PitchCom device on his left arm.

Ohtani didn’t give up another run over the next four innings, sending the Dodgers on their way to a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night at Target Field.

In the second inning in question, he didn’t appear to be on the same page of Dalton Rushing, who has become the team’s primary catcher with Will Smith on the injured list with neck problems.

The Twins’ first run of the inning scored on a passed ball. The run was unearned.

Later in that at-bat against Ryan Kreidler, Ohtani gestured for Rushing to challenge a ball call in the second, but Rushing shook his head no. The call was nonetheless challenged — and was overturned.

Ohtani also wanted Rushing to challenge a ball call in the first inning, but Rushing refused to do so.

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Only two Twins hitters reached base against Ohtani after the second inning. From the third inning on, he struck out six of the 14 batters he faced. Taken out of the game after six innings, Ohtani finished the game with eight strikeouts. His record improved to 8-2.

He threw his fastball at an average velocity of 99.8 mph.

As a hitter, Ohtani was 2 for 5 with a run batted in and a run scored.

What it means

Is Mookie Betts back?

Like, back to being the player he was in the first half of the 2024 season? The player who was once the most valuable player in the American League?

Betts had another monster day, this one starting with him hitting the 300th home run of his career.

Betts singled in the Dodgers’ three-run third inning. He doubled in the fifth inning.

Over his last 11 games, Betts is batting .378 with three home runs. He has three three-hit games and five multi-hit games over that period.

Who’s up

Freddie Freeman had himself a series in Minnesota.

In the series opener on Friday, his home run represented the deciding run. In a blowout win on Saturday, he was 3 for 5 with two doubles and two runs batted in.

Freeman reached base three more times in the series finale, as he was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run.

Who’s down

Rushing didn’t just have trouble connecting with Ohtani. He also had trouble connecting with the baseball when he was in the batter’s box.

Rushing was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, with Twins starter Joe Ryan requiring a combined six pitches to punch him out in the second and fourth innings.

Up next 

The Dodgers have a day off on Thursday. They resume play on Friday in San Diego, with Roki Sasaki (3-4, 4.76 ERA) taking the mound for them against Walker Buehler of the Padres (3.96).