Shohei Ohtani hit another home run and the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a series win at Progressive Field by defeating the Cleveland Guardians, 9-5.
The Dodgers now are on a two-game winning streak and can finish their road trip by sweeping the Guardians. Doing so would give the Dodgers a winning record for the six games away from Dodger Stadium.
Andy Pages and Dalton Rushing each hit an RBI single in the second inning, and Ohtani connected on his 20th home run of the season in the fourth to extend the Dodgers’ lead to 4-0.
Ohtani hit his 20th home run in the 72nd game last season, and reached that many this year in the Dodgers’ 55th game. Moreover, Ohtani has homered in three consecutive games for the second time this season, with both instances coming during the month of May.
But just as it appeared the Dodgers were in position for a comfortable win, Dustin May surrendered a three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning. That was one of the few low points for May in an otherwise encouraging outing.
May completed five innings and set a season high with nine strikeouts. The start was May’s eighth of his career with at least eight strikeouts, and he’s now reached that total in three consecutive outings.
Michael Conforto created some breathing room with a solo home run in the sixth inning. The homer was Conforto’s third of the season and first since April 5.
Max Muncy broke the game open with a three-run homer in the ninth inning.
Jack Dreyer and Ben Casparius combined for three scoreless innings to get the game to the ninth. Casparius entered with one out in the seventh inning and appeared primed to finish it before Muncy’s home run.
Luis García allowed two runs in the ninth inning.
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