The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Washington Nationals 13–7 on Sunday thanks to a grand slam and a three-run homer from Max Muncy and one hitless inning from Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani made his second mound start of the season before hitting a three-run triple and a two-run homer.
Compared to his season-opening mound debut against San Diego last Monday, the two-way star was more productive against the Nats as he eases his way back into the mound with brief starts.
Then, Ohtani produced two enormous hits in the final inning, his most effective offensive performance in a long time. In the Dodgers’ seven-run seventh inning, he drove into the right field corner to clear the bases, and in the eighth inning, he hit his 26th home run to put LA ahead 13-3.
Shohei Ohtani Makes History……Again
According to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs, Ohtani has now had at least one home run and a triple in a game he pitched in twice. In the last 125 years, he is the only player with numerous such games.
This is the second time Shohei Ohtani has had at least a homer and a triple in a game he pitched in (5/15/23)
He’s the only player with multiple such games in at least the last 125 seasons https://t.co/abGtM4apxf
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 22, 2025
After winning two of three games against Washington, the reigning World Series winners concluded their 10-game homestand at 7-3.
In addition to becoming the Dodgers’ designated hitter, Ohtani will start as their pitcher on Monday night. In 2022, a big league rule change let the two-way player effectively count as two players in games where he is both pitching and hitting.
In March of that season, the MLB Players Association and Major League Baseball reached an agreement to amend the rules for two-way players, allowing them to continue playing as designated hitters after leaving the game as pitchers.
As Phase 1 of the voting concludes on Thursday, Aaron Judge, the great slugger for the New York Yankees, and Ohtani are at the top in the American and National Leagues, respectively.
All-Star ballot update!
Phase 1 ends THURSDAY! Vote 5x daily at https://t.co/qZ7xq4aEem pic.twitter.com/UUOM7lO19r
— MLB (@MLB) June 23, 2025
With 26 home runs this season, a .291 batting average, and 49 RBIs, Ohtani, who is about to be selected for his fifth consecutive All-Star team, is directly behind Judge.
With a 48-31 record, the Dodgers lead the National League and appear well-positioned to defend their World Series crown.
Other than Ohtani and Judge, the only players with more than two million votes for the All-Star Game are Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs and Will Smith and Freddie Freeman, teammates of Ohtani’s from the Dodgers.
From June 30 to July 2, fans will have the opportunity to vote for the All-Star Game starters in Phase 2 following the receipt of the Phase 1 voting. Truist Park in Atlanta will host the 2025 MLB All-Star Game on July 15.