LOS ANGELES – Shohei Ohtani threw 10 strikeouts over six impressive innings Wednesday as the Los Angeles Dodgers downed the New York Mets 8-2, in his first pitching start without appearing in the batting lineup since the 2021 season.
The Dodgers opted to keep the two-way superstar out of the lineup after he was hit by a pitch on the back of his right shoulder against the Mets on Monday.
Ohtani (2-0) appeared unbothered by his bruised shoulder as he threw 96 pitches, 63 for strikes, while allowing one run on two hits and a walk at Dodger Stadium.
He was able to work with a 2-0 lead after Kim Hye Seong broke the ice with his two-run homer in the bottom of the second inning.
The four-time MVP surrendered the solitary run on MJ Melendez’s ground-rule double in the top of the fifth, ending his streak without allowing an earned run at 32-2/3 innings. He bounced back by striking out the side in the top of the sixth.
The Dodgers broke open the game when Dalton Rushing, standing in for Ohtani as designated hitter, belted an eighth-inning grand slam.
The last time Ohtani started on the mound without batting was May 28, 2021, when he was a member of the Los Angeles Angels.
At Citizens Bank Park, Shota Imanaga earned his first win of the year as the Chicago Cubs beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-2.
Imanaga (1-1) fanned 11 over six innings of three-hit, one-run ball, while Seiya Suzuki went 2-for-4 batting third as the Cubs’ designated hitter.