Shohei Ohtani homers twice in another comeback Dodgers win over Yankees

The Dodgers (35-22) came back to beat the Yankees (35-21) with a final score of 8-5 in the first game of three of a 2024 World Series rematch Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

The two first-place teams faced each other for the first time since last season’s World Series, and the series opener really did give World Series vibes complete with six home runs and a boisterous crowd at Chavez Ravine.

It was all about the offense. World Series MVP Freddie Freeman went 3-for-4 with two doubles, Shohei Ohtani hit two home runs, and Andy Pages drove in three runs on two hits.

Tony Gonsolin and Max Fried were victims of these two juggernaut offenses. Aaron Judge crushed a huge solo home run off Gonsolin to center field in the first inning to begin the Yankees offense.

Gonsolin wiggled out of the 24-pitch inning and allowed only one run despite the walk and two hits he allowed, but the Cat Man allowed four home runs in six innings of work to the Yanks overall.

Ohtani showed Judge whose house he was in when he hit a huge solo home run of his own in the bottom half of the first inning to tie the game. It was the first time reigning MLB MVPS have each hit a home run in the first inning.

Austin Wells gave the Yankees back the lead with yet another solo homer off Gonsolin in the top of the second. Trent Grisham homered to make it 4-1.

A rare balk by Fried allowed the Dodgers to cash in Tommy Edman’s double and cut New York’s lead in half.

The home run barrage against Gonsolin continued with a Paul Goldschmidt long ball in the third. The Dodgers are no strangers to Goldy homers.

The way both offenses started the game, it was a surprise to see Fried and Gonsolin both pitch into the sixth inning. What was even more surprising is that Gonsolin would go on to get the win.

Ohtani hit his second home run of the game versus Fried to lead off the bottom of the sixth and make it a 5-3 game.

Freeman is having himself a season, isn’t he? His 15th double of the season over the head of old friend Cody Bellinger in left field brought home Teoscar Hernández to make it a one-run game and finally chase Fried out of the game.

Jonathan Loáisiga replaced Fried, but Aaron Boone’s move didn’t work. Andy Pages tied the game with an RBI base hit through the hole past Anthony Volpe.

Boone’s second pitching change brought in Tim Hill to pitch to Michael Conforto who walked in the go-ahead run.

Jack Dreyer and Ben Casparius combined forces to pitch a scoreless seventh inning against the Bronx Bombers.

Freeman hustled home and got under the throw by Trent Grisham on a Pages base hit that cashed in two runs for the Dodgers in the bottom of the seventh. Freeman came up from the play at home hobbling on his bad ankle, but he was shown smiling in the dugout after and seemed pleased with himself.

Dave Roberts went to Tanner Scott for the four-out save despite his recent struggles out of the bullpen. Scott got DJ LeMahieu to fly out to center with his second pitch to keep it 8-5.

It was a promising relief outing from Scott, but Alex Vesia got the ball for the ninth and the potential save.

Vesia served up a leadoff base hit to Grisham on his first pitch of the ninth, but he was able to retire Judge thanks to some defensive help from Hyeseong Kim. Bellinger gave a Vesia pitch for a ride, but Edman ran it down in center for the second out. Goldschmidt lined out to Max Muncy at third to secure the World Series rematch series opener win for the reigning champions.

Friday particulars

Home runs: Aaron Judge (19), Shohei Ohtani 2 (22), Austin Wells (9), Trent Grisham (13), Paul Goldschmidt (6)

WP — Tony Gonsolin (3-1, 5.23 ERA): 6 IP, 6 hits, 5 runs, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts (91 pitches)

LP — Max Fried (7-1, 1.92 ERA): 5 IP, 8 hits, 6 runs, no walks, 3 strikeouts (75 pitches)

S — Alex Vesia (2): 1 IP, 1 hit, no runs, no walks, no strikeouts (11 pitches)

Up next

The battle of the behemoths continues Saturday when Landon Knack (2-2, 5.22 ERA, 1.36 WHIP) counters Will Warren (3-2, 4.09 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) at (4:15p.m. PT; FOX).