Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani heads home after hitting his home run off Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen during the first inning of a baseball game on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Chicago.
11:09 JST, June 26, 2024
CHICAGO (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff homer against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, extending his career RBI streak to nine consecutive games.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani hits a home run off Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen during the first inning of a baseball game on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Chicago.
Ohtani hit a hanging curveball from Chris Flexen into the visitors’ bullpen in right-center for his NL-best 24th home run. White Sox right fielder Tommy Pham tried to make a leaping catch on the play, but couldn’t reel it in.
Ohtani has recorded at least one point in his last nine games, tying a franchise record. The last player to accomplish this feat for the Dodgers was Hall of Fame catcher Roy Campanella in 1955.
It was Ohtani’s second leadoff home run of the season and his eighth career home run.
Ohtani also walked and scored on Freddie Freeman’s two-run homer in the third inning. He hit again in the fourth to give Los Angeles a 4-3 lead with an RBI single with two outs.
Ohtani, who turns 30 on July 5, is in his first season with the Dodgers after agreeing to a record 10-year, $700 million contract in December.
The two-time AL MVP moved into the top spot after Mookie Betts was sidelined by a broken left hand. Heading into Tuesday’s action, the Japanese star is hitting .407 (11 for 27) with four home runs and 12 RBIs in seven games since Betts was injured.
