Shohei Ohtani cemented his place in Los Angeles Dodgers history by becoming the fastest player to reach 100 home runs with the franchise, accomplishing the feat in just 294 games. He shattered the previous mark set by Gary Sheffield, who needed 399 games to get there.
The milestone came with a solo shot in the third inning against Pirates rookie Bubba Chandler, marking Ohtani’s 46th homer of the season. The blast wasn’t just another long ball: it registered as the hardest-hit home run of his career and the hardest by any Dodger since Statcast began recording data.
Despite the individual achievement, the night ended on a sour note for Los Angeles. The Dodgers fell 9-7 to the Pittsburgh Pirates, undone by bullpen struggles that overshadowed a strong offensive performance. The Pirates took advantage of key opportunities late in the game, turning Ohtani’s historic swing into little more than a consolation highlight.
Why didn’t this historic home run prevent the loss?
Because while Ohtani once again delivered at the plate, the Dodgers’ bullpen faltered in critical moments, allowing decisive rallies by the Pirates and undermining the superstar’s effort.