■MLB White Sox Dodgers (27th 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 27th (Japan time), and in his first at-bat in the first inning, he hit a home run as leadoff hitter for the ninth time in his major league career off White Sox starter E. Fedde (31). This was his 25th home run in two consecutive games. His consecutive game RBI streak is the longest for a Japanese player and a new club record, stretching to 10. Ohtani, who is leading the league in the home run race, is now just four homers behind second-place M. Ozuna (33) of the Braves.

The White Sox’s starting pitcher is Feddy, 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.

In his first at-bat in the first inning, he caught the cut ball that was coming in softly on the outside and high, and sent it flying into the stands with ease. It was a perfect hit, with a ball speed of 183.3 km/h, a distance of 133.1 m, and an angle of 26 degrees. It was his ninth time in the major leagues that he hit a home run as the leadoff batter in two consecutive games, and his 25th home run, putting him ahead of the rest of the team. He also hit 100 hits this season.

In the last nine games, he has been in great form with 15 hits in 34 at-bats for a batting average of .441, 7 home runs, and 16 RBIs. His 25th home run in the team’s 82nd game is a 49.3 home run pace for the season. Otani excels in June, and this is his 11th this month, with eight home runs in the last 10 games, so he is in high production mode. In terms of milestone records, he is now six home runs away from his 250th home run in Japan and the US, and four away from his 200th in the majors.