July 16, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; National League designated hitter Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers (17) hits a three-run home run against the American League during the third inning of the 2024 MLB All-Star Game at Globe Life Field.
10:53 JST, July 17, 2024
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Shohei Ohtani gave the National League a lead in the All-Star Game with a three-run home run in the third inning off Boston’s Tanner Houck on Tuesday night.
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League runs the bases after hitting a home run in the third inning of the MLB All-Star baseball game, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.
Ohtani walked in the first inning against Baltimore’s Corbin Burnes and came to bat in the third inning after Jurickson Profar singled and Ketel Marte hit a 109.5 mph hit off second baseman Marcus Semien.
Houck trailed 2-0 and Ohtani hit a splitter over the center of the plate, 400 feet away, into the right-field stands for his first All-Star home run.
He became the first Los Angeles Dodgers player to hit a home run in an All-Star Game since Mike Piazza in 1996 against Cleveland’s Charles Nagy at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.
Ohtani, a four-time All-Star 11 days after his 30th birthday, was back in the NL for the first time since leaving the Los Angeles Angels to sign a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ohtani was the first two-way All-Star for three straight years through 2023 and earned the win in the 2021 game at Denver’s Coors Field when he struck out Fernando Tatis Jr., Max Muncy and Nolan Arenado in the first inning. He is not pitching this season after undergoing elbow surgery last September.
Ohtani is hitting .316 with 29 home runs, 69 RBIs and 23 stolen bases for the Dodgers, the most in the NL.
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League throws his bat high as he hits a three-run home run in the third inning during the MLB All-Star baseball game, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.
