■MLB White Sox 0-4 Dodgers (27th Japan time, Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago, Illinois)

Shohei Ohtani (29) of the Dodgers started as the leadoff hitter and designated hitter in the away game against the White Sox on the 27th (Japan time), hitting 1 hit, 1 home run, 1 RBI and 2 walks in 2 at-bats for a batting average of .322. This was his 9th major league career hit and his first home run as leadoff hitter in two consecutive games, making it his 25th home run, and he also set a new club record by scoring in 10 consecutive games.

The White Sox’s starting pitcher is E. Fedde (31), who won the triple crown (most wins, best ERA, strikeouts) in the Korean League last season and was also named the league MVP. He will face Ohtani in 2022 and was hitless in two at-bats.

After the previous day’s game, Ohtani spoke about the reason for his good form, saying, “I’m in good position, so I’m able to let balls go, and I feel like that’s leading to good results.” In his first at-bat in the first inning, against a pitcher with almost no data, Ohtani carefully watched the ball, and didn’t swing at a single pitch, leading to a full count. Then, on the sixth pitch, he made a perfect swing at a cut ball on the outside corner and high, hitting it at a speed of 183.3 km/h, a distance of 133.1 m, and an angle of 26 degrees for a perfect hit. It was his second consecutive game to hit it on his first swing, and his 25th leadoff home run, his ninth in the majors. Ohtani has now recorded 10 consecutive games with RBIs, setting a new team record, and 100 hits this season.

And it was the first time in the Dodgers’ long history that a leadoff hitter hit a home run in two consecutive away games.

In the third inning, with runners on first and second and no outs, Feddy was hit with a powerful home run in his second at-bat, but was unable to make a move in the pinch and focused on pitching to the outside. Ohtani also didn’t force a swing, and walked to load the bases, widening the opportunity. No. 2 hitter T. Hernandez (31) scored an additional run with a sacrifice fly, and No. 3 hitter F. Freeman (34) hit a double down the right field line, sending Ohtani from first base home in one go.

With a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning, he came up to bat as the leadoff batter and took a full swing at the first pitch, a cut ball high and inside, but was blocked and hit a foul fly to third base.

In the seventh inning, with two outs and a runner on first base, Ohtani was up to bat for the fourth time against White Sox pitcher M. Soroka (26). Facing a pitcher with little data, Ohtani watched the ball’s trajectory and got on base with a walk. Ohtani had one hit in two at-bats, one home run, one RBI and two walks for a batting average of .322. He led the league in batting average and home runs, and his RBI total came in at 61, just three RBI behind the leaders Ozuna of the Braves and A. Bohm of the Phillies (27), who both had 64 RBIs. The team’s starting pitcher G. Stone (25) recorded his ninth win (two losses) with his first shutout in the majors.