Shohei Ohtani pitches 10-strikeout gem as Dodgers sweep Mets

Even with a reliever warm for the sixth inning on Wednesday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided to ride with Shohei Ohtani.On the rare night he wasn’t in the lineup as a hitter, the four-time MVP responded with a breathless exhibition of pure pitching dominance.In the Dodgers’ 8-2 win over the New York Mets, Ohtani helped complete a three-game series sweep with six spectacular innings on the mound.He gave up just one run.He allowed only two hits.

And in a 10-strikeout exhibition, he saved his best stuff for the end of the night –– striking out the side in the top of the sixth with a swing-and-miss fastball, then curveball, then splitter.Good morning, good afternoon and a very good night.That was the story Wednesday, with the Dodgers (14-4) continuing their scorching hot start to the season even without the help of Ohtani’s bat.As the two-way star continues to nurse a shoulder bruise he suffered on a hit-by-pitch Monday, the Dodgers decided to simplify his task, taking him out of the batting order so he could solely focus on his duties as a pitcher.The move paid off perfectly, with Ohtani turning in perhaps his best start this year (despite allowing his first earned run of the campaign) while his DH replacement, Dalton Rushing, led the way offensively with a double and a grand slam.“It was actually really good to watch him just focus on one thing,” manager Dave Roberts said of Ohtani.“I thought that just channeling all that energy into pitching was helpful.”Indeed, in Ohtani’s 95-pitch gem, he had every arrow in his six-pitch quiver working.His upper-90s mph fastball was dotted at the top of the zone.

Big-bending sweepers and late-breaking curveballs and fall-of-the-table splitters helped complement it.  California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.Please provide a valid email.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a s...