Shohei Ohtani’s Two-Bomb Night in Denver Was Exactly What the Dodgers Needed
DENVER — The Los Angeles Dodgers have spent weeks looking lost at the plate. Then they walked into Coors Field and remembered they’re the Dodgers.
Shohei Ohtani delivered a vintage performance Monday night, going 4-for-5 with a pair of home runs — the 25th multihomer game of his career — as L.A. rolled to an 11-5 win over the Colorado Rockies. Max Muncy also launched a three-run bomb, and the lineup finally looked like the juggernaut everyone expected.
The Ohtani Show, Coors Edition
Ohtani was locked in from start to finish. His two homers powered an offense that had been stuck in neutral for weeks. The Dodgers entered the game averaging just 3.4 runs per contest while dropping 11 of 16, so this 11-run outburst was a serious exhale.
And it wasn’t just the power. Ohtani now has hits in 21 straight games at Coors Field, with nine homers and 24 RBIs while hitting .413 in that stretch. In the Mile High City, he said the approach is simple: stay contact-oriented and don’t get too tense. It’s working.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called it vintage Shohei.
“When he does that, there’s nobody better on the planet,” Roberts said.
Knee Update: Trending Up
The homers were huge, but the most encouraging news for L.A. might be Ohtani’s left knee. After his latest bullpen session, Ohtani said he felt good the next day. He’s scheduled for another bullpen Tuesday and hasn’t pitched since July 3 due to irritation in the knee.
On the mound this season, Ohtani is 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings. He isn’t setting a timeline, but the goal remains getting back as soon as possible — without rushing the rehab.
Supporting Cast Steps Up
Ohtani didn’t do it alone. Freddie Freeman went 3-for-5 with two doubles, Andy Pages was 3-for-4 with a double, and Muncy finished 2-for-4 with his 25th homer of the year.
Not every story was positive. Kyle Tucker went 0-for-5 and is now hitless in his last 24 at-bats across seven games. He also made an error in right field, and Roberts acknowledged the frustration.
“It’s not from a lack of effort, care. It’s just right now, he’s kind of fighting,” Roberts said. “So, we’ve got to keep supporting him.”
Reliever Edwin Díaz also had a rough ninth, giving up three runs as he works through some command issues. Roberts said he hopes Díaz doesn’t lose confidence, insisting he still believes in him.
But on this night, the bats did the talking. The Dodgers scored their most runs since a 12-7 win over San Diego on July 2 — and got a healthy reminder of what their offense can be.