Shohei Ohtani hit a home run for the second straight game and 37th time this season as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-2 on Tuesday for their fifth straight win.
Ohtani made a 1-0 split in the middle of the zone against Colin Rea (10-4) in the third inning and sent the ball to the second deck at American Family Field for a solo hit and a 2-0 lead. Will Smith also hit a home run in the second inning and put the Dodgers on the scoreboard.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run, his 37th of the season, in the third inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 13, 2024, at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
William Contreras, like Ohtani, hit a home run for the Brewers for the second straight game, making the game 2-1 at the end of the third inning. But the Dodgers scored five runs in the fourth inning, with Gavin Lux and Andy Pages each hitting two home runs.
Yusei Kikuchi allowed one run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings to earn the win as the Houston Astros defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2.
Kikuchi (6-9) struck out five players and had three 1-2-3 innings at Tropicana Field, where he allowed the first run on an RBI single by Josh Lowe in the second inning. The Astros tied the game in the third inning before Alex Bragman got solo hits in the fifth and Jeremy Pena in the sixth.
“(Houston) is a watertight team with their batting order, defense and baserunning, so my role is to set the tone of the game by allowing as few runs as possible,” said Kikuchi, who arrived in late July via a trade from the Toronto Blue Jays.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani circles the bases after hitting a solo home run, his 37th of the season, in the third inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 13, 2024, at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Related coverage:
Baseball: Shohei Ohtani’s home run helps Dodgers to fourth win in a row
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Baseball: Yusei Kikuchi fans celebrate 8 consecutive wins in Astros debut
