'God of Baseball' Ohtani Shows His Majesty! Reaches 350 Career Home Runs in U.S. and Japan → But LAD Suffers Sweeping Humiliation Against ARI

*This content was translated by AI.

Shohei Ohtani (32), of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the 'God of Baseball' produced by Japan, has built a golden monument with 350 career home runs in both the U.S. and Japan, but his brilliance was dimmed by his team's painful comeback loss.

On the 13th (Korea time), Ohtani started as the designated hitter for the first spot in the final game of a three-game home series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at the UCLA Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, USA, fighting hard with multi-hits including a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning.

Ohtani's majesty was fully proven from his first at-bat that day. As the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the first, Ohtani unhesitatingly hit a four-seam fastball thrown by Arizona's rookie left-handed starter Bratt, which was located right in the center of the strike zone. The batted ball speed reached an astonishing 111.8 mph (approximately 179.9 km/h), and the 437th-foot (approximately 133 meters) fly ball with a large arc landed squarely in the middle section of the left-center field stands.

This was the moment he hit his 22nd home run of the season, which erupted after just two games, and completed his 350th career home run across both leagues. Ohtani, who hit 48 home runs with the Nippon-Ham Fighters in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from the 2013 season through the 2017 season, has drawn 302 arcs in Major League Baseball from the 2018 season through the 2026 season to launch his 350th home run.

Riding high on momentum, Ohtani came up again as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the third inning and hit another double that split left-center field. Later, when following batter Tommy Edman hit a two-run RBI single, Ohtani crossed home plate to give the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.

However, the Dodgers collapsed due to defensive errors and a pitching mound breakdown in the middle of the game. In the top of the fifth inning, starter Eme Si-han allowed his first run after giving up two doubles, and then center fielder Andy Paredes' fatal misplay on a dropping ball compounded the issue, allowing Arizona to cut the deficit to 2-3, trailing by one run.

Disaster struck in the top of the sixth inning. A runner reached scoring position due to a pickoff throw from rookie catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, and reliever Edgardo Henriquez issued a walk, creating a crisis. Then, on a infield grounder hit by Lourdes Gurriel Jr., third baseman Max Muncy's throw home was an error that hit the runner, tying the game 3-3. Immediately after, Idemaro Vargas hit a go-ahead two-run single, flipping the score to 3-4. Ultimately, with a solo home run by Arizona team hitter in the top of the ninth inning sealing the deal, the Dodgers were forced to their knees.

Ohtani finished the day with 2 hits in 4 at-bats (including 1 home run), 1 RBI, and 1 strikeout, extending his hit streak to three consecutive games. Playing as a hitter instead of starting pitcher due to discomfort in his left knee during the final stretch of the first half, he recorded a batting average of 0.293, 22 home runs, 58 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.952 for the first half. Although his last appearance as a pitcher was on the 4th against the San Diego Padres, Ohtani, who also performed well as a pitcher in the first half with 14 games, 8 wins, 2 losses, and an ERA of 1.79, displayed the true qualities of the 'God of Baseball,' but his team suffered the humiliation of a three-game sweep at home against Arizona, forcing him to accept a disappointing conclusion to the first half.

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*This content was translated by AI.