Dodgers Defeat Twins in Home Game

LOS ANGELES: In a game at Dodger Stadium on Monday, Will Smith’s two home runs and Shohei Ohtani’s two-run homer in the first inning propelled the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

Byron Buxton initiated the scoring for the Twins with a home run to left field off Ohtani’s second pitch, marking his 23rd of the season.

The Dodgers responded quickly in the first inning with Ohtani’s homer, taking a 2-1 advantage. This was Ohtani’s 35th of the season and his third in the last three games.

Smith then extended the lead with a home run in the fourth inning and another in the sixth, increasing his team’s lead to 4-1.

Andy Pages contributed to the win by connecting in the seventh inning, boosting the lead to 5-1. This was his 18th of the season and his first since July 2.

Royce Lewis had a productive day for the Twins, recording three hits. It was his second three-hit game this season.

Ohtani pitched four innings, allowing one run on four hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.

Dustin May followed, pitching four and two-thirds scoreless innings with four strikeouts, giving up five hits and walking three. This win marked the Dodgers’ first home victory since July 3, ending a six-game home losing streak.

The Twins added a run against Kirby Yates in the ninth, who entered the game after Tanner Scott’s exit due to an undisclosed injury. Yates walked Ryan Jeffers, loading the bases. Kody Clemens hit a sacrifice fly to center, reducing the deficit to three. Yates then retired Correa to secure the win.

Yates earned his third save, recording the final two outs.

Minnesota’s right-hander, David Festa, allowed four runs on four hits over five and one-third innings, with one walk and five strikeouts.

Twins pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson is scheduled to face Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Tuesday.