Shohei Ohtani hit his 13th home run of the season before leaving with left knee inflammation as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-6 in MLB action Thursday night in Pittsburgh.
Shohei Ohtani Reaches Base Four Times
The reigning NL MVP opened the scoring line with a solo homer off Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller in the third inning. AP reported that Ohtani also singled and walked twice, reaching base in all four of his plate appearances before the Dodgers lifted him for a pinch hitter in the seventh.
It was not immediately clear when Ohtani began feeling discomfort in the knee. That is the part of a win that makes everyone read the postgame notes twice, because one swing can be loud and one lineup change can be louder.
Justin Wrobleski Also Exits For Dodgers
The Dodgers had another injury concern when starter Justin Wrobleski left in the fifth inning with a left hamstring contusion. AP reported that Bryan Reynolds hit a line drive off Wrobleski, with the ball ricocheting to first baseman Freddie Freeman.
Wrobleski then collided with Reynolds while taking Freeman's toss at first base. The play added a messy sequence to a night Los Angeles still managed to close out, though not exactly with the cleanest medical report.
Dodgers Take Series From Pirates
Andy Pages had two hits for the NL West-leading Dodgers, who took two of three in the series. Kyle Tucker added a two-run single, and Miguel Rojas drove in two runs.
Pittsburgh had power of its own. Pirates rookie Rafael Flores Jr. hit his first major league home run, while Brandon Lowe also went deep. Flores, Nick Gonzales and Spencer Horwitz each had two hits.
The Dodgers left Pittsburgh with an 8-6 win and a series victory, but the attention now naturally shifts to Ohtani's knee and Wrobleski's hamstring. In June, that is the bargain every contender dislikes: bank the win, then wait for the trainers to make the next headline quieter.