■MLB White Sox Dodgers (26th Japan time, Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago, Illinois)

Shohei Ohtani (29) of the Dodgers started as leadoff hitter and designated hitter in the away game against the White Sox on the 26th (Japan time), and in his first at-bat in the first inning, he hit a home run as leadoff hitter for the eighth time in the major leagues off White Sox starter C. Flexen (29). It was his 24th home run, his first in two games. His consecutive game RBI streak now stands at nine, the longest for a Japanese player. Ohtani, who is leading the league in the home run race, is now three homers behind second-place M. Ozuna (33) of the Braves.

The White Sox’s starting pitcher was C. Flexen (29), who has a career record of 3 hits in 18 at-bats, a batting average of .167, 1 home run, and 1 RBI, making him a pitcher he struggles with. In his first at-bat in the first inning, he didn’t miss a curveball that came in softly, and caught it, sending the ball into the stands. The ball had a speed of 150 km/h, a distance of 114.6 m, and an angle of 31 degrees, so it was a rather weak hit, but he swung hard. It was his 8th leadoff home run in the majors, and his 24th home run in two games. There was also a rare scene of him missing the base as he rounded first base and rushing back.

As the leadoff hitter and designated hitter, he has been in great form with 11 hits in 27 at-bats for a batting average of .407, 4 home runs, and 12 RBIs. His 24th home run in the team’s 81st game puts him on pace for 48 home runs for the season. Otani excels in June, and this is his 10th home run this month, with seven in the last nine games, so he is in high production mode. In terms of milestone records, he is now seven home runs away from his 250th in Japan and the US, and five away from his 200th in the majors.