Dodgers 4, Rockies 1: Shohei Ohtani homers & goes 6 no-hit innings as Dodgers cruise to sweep

After the Dodgers took the first two games of the season, they had a chance to sweep behind Shohei Ohtani, and that they did. It wasn’t always as smooth as the headline implies, but they never felt in a ton of danger of losing this one, as Shohei homered and went six no-hit frames in a 4-1 victory to sweep the Rockies.

That’s five in a row and 12-2 in the last 14.

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Things started well for the Dodgers against Tomoyuki Sugano, as Shohei Ohtani led the game off with his ninth homer of the year.

Two batters later it was Freddie Freeman hitting his seventh of the year to make it 2-0 just like that.

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On the other end, it sounds weird to say given the result, but Shohei Ohtani labored on the mound. A lot of deep counts and falling behind, but overpowering with stuff.

In the 1st, a two-out walk helped to increase his pitch count, and in the 2nd, he got a great play in right from Alex Call to start, which helped the two-out walk later in the inning not matter much.

He did then get a 1-2-3 frame in the 3rd, but gave himself trouble in the 4th with a lead-off walk and hit batter. He got a pair of groundouts and a strikeout over the next three batters, but that ended up plating a run and Alex Freeland prevented worse. Still, the lead was cut to 2-1.

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To his credit, Sugano settled down after the early bombs, limiting them to just a walk and a single (that was picked off) over the next 11 batters. However, they got a two-out rally in the 4th, as Hyeseong Kim singled (more on him being in the game later), Will Smith followed with a double, and Alex Call singled to left to score Kim with Dills getting thrown out at home. Fine with the choice.

Sugano then got two-outs in the 5th before an error extended the inning and scared the shit out of me when Andy Pages went down avoiding the tag.

That was all for Sugano, but the pen got the last out of the 5th, got a 1-2-3 frame in the 6th, and gave up just a lead-off walk in the 7th.

Fortunately, some insurance came via Andy Pages’ 13th homer of the year to start the 8th and making it 4-1.

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Meanwhile, Ohtani issued another lead-off walk in the 5th before getting through the inning, and finally got another 1-2-3 frame in the 6th. He was overall … no pleased.

It’s funny cause he didn’t give up a hit: 6 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 7 K, 99 Pitches.

Will Klein entered in relief for the 7th, getting the first out via a great Kim play in left, then allowing a runner to reach with one out on a Max Muncy error, but erasing that on a double play soon after.

Tanner Scott got the 8th, giving up a two-out single against the shift to break-up the combined no-hitter, but was otherwise dominant with a pair of strikeouts.

Kyle Hurt got the 9th looking for his first save, and he got it in 1-2-3 fashion.

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On the downside, another Hernandez was hurt, as Teoscar Hernandez went down running out a ball.

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36-20, a 104-win pace.

The Dodgers have a bit of an oddly-timed day off tomorrow as they’ll remain at home to welcome the Phillies in for three games. They’ll start things on Apple TV at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET with Justin Wrobleski facing Zack Wheeler.

About Chad Moriyama

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"A highly rational Internet troll." - Los Angeles Times