Los Angeles, CA – The anticipation hanging thick in the Dodger Stadium air on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, wasn’t just for another chapter in the storied Dodgers vs. Padres rivalry. No, tonight, all eyes were fixated on the mound, and then the plate, as baseball’s transcendent superstar, Shohei Ohtani, made his long-awaited pitching return for the Los Angeles Dodgers. While his stint on the rubber was brief, Ohtani’s impact with the bat was undeniable, propelling the Dodgers to a hard-fought 6-3 victory over their bitter NL West rivals.
From the first pitch, a palpable buzz rippled through Chavez Ravine. Twenty-one months after his last Major League outing and right elbow surgery, the two-way phenom took the mound, a sight that had Dodgers fans, and indeed the entire baseball world, eagerly awaiting. Ohtani’s velocity was impressive, touching 100.2 mph on his fastball and averaging 96.8 mph across his nine pitches in the opening frame. However, the Padres quickly tested him. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Arraez opened the game with back-to-back singles, setting the stage for Manny Machado to drive in the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly. Ohtani, ever the competitor, settled down to induce groundouts from the next two hitters, stranding Arraez and limiting the damage. His pitching performance, while brief at just one inning and 28 pitches, showcased flashes of the dominant arm fans remember.
But Ohtani wasn’t done making his mark on the game. True to his two-way legend, he immediately transitioned to his role as designated hitter, and that’s where he truly carved his name into the night’s narrative. After Padres starter Dylan Cease, who initially looked sharp with five straight strikeouts to start the game, held the Dodgers scoreless through two, Ohtani stepped up in the bottom of the third with the score 1-0 in favor of San Diego. With two outs, he ripped an RBI double, tying the game and igniting the Dodgers’ offense.
The fourth inning proved to be the turning point, a classic Dodgers offensive explosion against a reeling Cease. After San Diego briefly regained a 2-1 lead on Xander Bogaerts’ RBI double, the Dodgers responded with a five-run outburst. Max Muncy, Tommy Edman, and Ohtani himself, with another clutch two-out hit – a run-scoring single – all contributed. Mookie Betts added an RBI single, spraying hits across the field and showcasing the depth of the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup. Cease’s night ended after five innings, having surrendered six runs on eight hits.
The Padres managed to chip away in the sixth with a leadoff homer from Manny Machado, but the damage was done. Dodgers reliever Ben Casparius (5-1), who entered in the second inning after Ohtani’s departure, was stellar in relief, earning the win with 3 2/3 strong innings. Anthony Banda and Kirby Yates closed out the game, with Yates securing his second save of the season.
This June 17th clash was more than just a regular season game; it was a statement. The Dodgers, now sitting comfortably atop the NL West, showcased their resilience and offensive firepower. For the Padres, despite flashes of offensive brilliance and the initial challenge to Ohtani, they couldn’t contain the relentless Dodgers attack. The ongoing MLB season promises more electrifying matchups between these two titans, but tonight, the “Sho-Time” in Los Angeles delivered a memorable victory for the home team, reminding everyone why Shohei Ohtani’s pitching return is one of the most anticipated storylines in baseball. This Padres Dodgers game will undoubtedly be remembered for the triumphant return of baseball’s unicorn to the mound, even as his bat stole the headlines.
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