Shohei Ohtani secures first victory as a Dodger with nine-strikeout performance

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani achieved a season-high nine strikeouts across five innings, securing his first win for the Dodgers as Los Angeles defeated Cincinnati 5-1 on Wednesday night, marking the Reds’ first sweep of the season.

The Dodgers won their fourth straight game and extended their NL West lead to two games over San Diego, which lost 4-3 at Seattle.

In his 11th start, Ohtani (1-1) rebounded while playing against the Reds and registered a win after completing the minimum five innings needed to qualify. This was his first victory since his performance on August 9, 2023, with the Angels against San Francisco.

The versatile player conceded one run and two hits, issued two walks, and threw a season-high 87 pitches—53 of which were strikes—while successfully retiring his last eight batters during his bobblehead night. As a batter, he managed one hit in five at-bats and scored a run.

The Reds led 1-0 on Noelvi Marte’s 410-foot homer on the first pitch by Ohtani in the third. It was the third homer Ohtani has allowed this season.

The Dodgers scored four runs to take a 4-1 lead in the fourth. Kiké Hernández, starting in place of injured Freddie Freeman, had a two-run single up the middle.

It was the third straight single allowed by Nick Lodolo (8-7), who retired the first nine batters he faced.

Lodolo intentionally walked Miguel Rojas and Dalton Rushing followed with a two-run single to center. Michael Conforto added a solo shot in the eighth.

Key moment

Ohtani pitched his way out of trouble in the second.

With one out, he walked Spencer Steer and Jose Trevino back-to-back.

They moved up on two wild pitches — Ohtani’s seventh and eighth of the season — before Ke’Bryan Hayes and Matt McLain went down swinging to end the inning.

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Los Angeles pitchers struck out a franchise record 19 batters for a nine-inning game.