Judge and Ohtani Trade Blows in Electric Yankees-Dodgers Showdown
Last night at Dodger Stadium felt less like the first game of a regular season series and more like the cinematic sequel to a blockbuster—an adrenaline-pumping rematch between two heavyweight franchises. And in classic Hollywood fashion, the stars delivered. Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, the reigning MVPs of their respective leagues, did something that’s never been done before in MLB history: both homered in the same inning to kick off the game.
As the crowd buzzed with anticipation, Judge wasted no time silencing the home fans with a thunderous solo shot in the top of the first. On an 89.7 mph fastball from Tony Gonsolin, Judge unloaded a 446-foot missile into center field, registering an exit velocity of 113 mph. He called it “an electric atmosphere,” and it certainly felt like it. Moments later, Ohtani answered back with his own solo blast—this one off Max Fried, clocked at 417 feet and traveling 105.5 mph off the bat. It was a jaw-dropping back-and-forth that set the tone for a thrilling night.
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“I feel like he was copying me,” Judge joked after the game, flashing a grin. But it was Ohtani who had the last word, belting a second home run in the sixth inning—his MLB-leading 22nd of the season. That moonshot sparked a four-run Dodgers rally, ultimately propelling them to an 8-5 win and handing the Yankees their first loss in six games.
The Yankees had jumped out early, smashing four home runs in the first three innings. Austin Wells, Trent Grisham, and Paul Goldschmidt all went deep, helping New York build a 5-2 lead. But it was short-lived. Fried, who had been lights-out this season, stumbled hard. The Dodgers tagged him for six earned runs—two of those from Ohtani’s bat—before sending him to the showers.
Freddie Freeman, last October’s World Series MVP, added fuel to the fire with a clutch RBI double that tied the game. The Dodgers then took advantage of a bases-loaded walk and a two-run single to seize full control. Even with a late push in the eighth, the Yankees couldn’t reclaim the momentum.
Still, the night belonged to the superstars. Whether it was Judge’s opening blast or Ohtani’s twin homers, this game had everything fans crave—history, heart, and high drama. As Dodgers manager Dave Roberts put it, “We love superstars,” and Friday night gave us a duel for the ages.
With two games left in the series, there’s no doubt more fireworks are coming. When Judge and Ohtani are center stage, every pitch feels like it could be historic.
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