Shohei Ohtani broke Hideki Matsui’s MLB record for homers by a Japanese-born player with a big two-run homer in the third inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers ended their three-game losing streak with a 10-0 win over the New York Mets on Sunday.
Ohtani hit a 423-foot line drive off Adrian Houser (0-2) deep into the right-field bleachers for his fifth homer of the year and the 176th of his six-plus seasons in the majors. That broke Matsui’s record, the former New York Yankees slugger who played 10 seasons in North America.
Ohtani said through his interpreter that he felt relieved to achieve the milestone.
Ohtani mentioned that he was not initially aware of Matsui’s record when he started his career, but eventually started paying attention to the numbers.
When asked if he hopes to replicate Matsui’s playoff performance when he reaches the MLB postseason, Ohtani joked that he’s currently more focused on breaking manager Dave Roberts’ record for the most homers by a Japanese-born player in a Dodgers uniform.
Roberts is ahead of Ohtani 7-5 in that competition.
“Hideki Matsui was a great ballplayer, a great home run hitter, a world champion,” Roberts said. “I know that Shohei admired him, so for him to surpass that mark, it’s a significant achievement. I know whatever record lies ahead, Shohei is aiming to break them all.”
Tyler Glasnow (4-1) struck out 10 and held New York to seven singles over eight strong innings while Los Angeles halted the Mets’ six-game winning streak and salvaged the finale of a disappointing 3-6 homestand.
Andy Pages hit his first career homer, a three-run shot, during the Dodgers’ eight-run fifth inning. Freddie Freeman and Will Smith also contributed with two-run doubles, and Mookie Betts had an RBI single in the fifth.
Roberts described the game as the first complete baseball game he can recall from the Dodgers this season. He praised their clean defense and quality at-bats, especially from the bottom of the order. He also commended Tyler’s performance, saying it was fun to watch a clean baseball game.
After winning 12 of 15 following their 0-5 start to the season, the Mets were shut out for the second time this year. New York had won eight of its previous nine.
Houser struggled to contain the Dodgers’ strong lineup, giving up seven runs on eight hits and four walks in his fourth start for his new team.
Los Angeles batted around in the fifth inning, with six straight batters reaching base. After Betts drove in Pages, Ohtani singled off Houser’s leg before Freeman and Smith hit back-to-back doubles.
Houser admitted, “Just making too many mistakes. Wasn’t able to get in sync in that fifth inning. I need to be able to get some quick outs there and keep the team in the ballgame. These guys have been playing great, and I’m letting them down right now. Can’t be doing that. Got to clean some things up.”
Pages gave the Dodgers a 10-0 lead with a long hit to center off Grant Hartwig for his first home run in the young Cuban outfielder’s fifth game in the major leagues, during his second at-bat of the inning.
Glasnow then provided the solid start the Dodgers needed after allowing 15 runs to the Mets in the previous two games. The experienced right-hander worked quickly and effectively, becoming the first Dodgers starter to pitch into the eighth inning since Clayton Kershaw did it on July 15, 2022.
Glasnow, who struggled during a previous game due to illness, did not walk a batter, surrender an extra-base hit, and allowed only one Mets runner to reach second base before the eighth inning.
In the eighth inning, New York loaded the bases with three singles, but Glasnow struck out pinch-hitter Tyrone Taylor and received a standing ovation from the crowd of 49,287.
Glasnow mentioned, “I was having a good day, and if I were to give up runs in the last inning, it would leave a bad impression.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: LHP Brooks Raley was placed on the 15-day injured list due to elbow inflammation. He had pitched only once since Monday. New York recalled Hartwig from Triple-A Syracuse. Raley mentioned that he had been experiencing pain for a few days, but he is optimistic about a quick return following a cortisone shot.
Dodgers: RHP Walker Buehler will have at least one additional minor league rehab appearance, pitching for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Buehler hasn't had precise control since returning to the mound from Tommy John surgery, so the Dodgers have not set a return date for him, despite his key role in their starting rotation.
UP NEXT
Mets: José Quintana (1-1, 3.05 ERA) will be on the mound Monday in San Francisco to start a three-game series.
Dodgers: James Paxton (2-0, 2.81 ERA) will start Tuesday at Washington to begin a nine-game trip.
