MLB Roundup: Dodgers homer four times, beat Athletics | Professional

On the eve of Matt Sauer’s first scheduled MLB pitching start, Shohei Ohtani started a parade of four Dodgers home runs, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Oakland Athletics 9-3 at Los Angeles Wednesday.

Sauer, a former Righetti High School standout, was to start for the Dodgers against the A’s Thursday night.

Ohtani led off for the Dodgers Wednesday with a solo homer to right field in the bottom of the first inning. Andy Pages hit a solo home run in the second inning, Hyeseong Kim hit a solo homer in the fifth and Max Muncy hit a three-run home run in the eighth.

The Dodgers kept their half game lead on the San Diego Padres, who beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-1 at San Diego. The Dodgers led the National League West at press time Thursday.

At press time, the New York Yankees held a 3.5 game lead over second-place Toronto in the American League East. The Blue Jays had moved ahead of the Boston Red Sox and into second.

Houston moved to within a game of first-place Seattle in the National League West. Detroit maintained its lead in the American League Central, and the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs remained in front in the NL East and Central respectively.