Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman are a pretty cool trio to have at the top of your lineup, as the Los Angeles Dodgers showed on Saturday.
The former MVPs opened a crucial divisional game against the Arizona Diamondbacks with back-to-back home runs from starting pitcher Merrill Kelly. Ohtani led off the game with his NL-best 44th home run of the season, then Betts and Freeman did more damage. All three home runs were measured at 400 feet or more.
It all happened in the space of four lengths.
The Dodgers reported later It was the first time in franchise history that the team opened a game with three consecutive home runs.
It was just one element of a chaotic start to the game between the first- and second-place teams in the National League West. After the Dodgers were held scoreless, Diamondbacks center fielder Corbin Carroll hit an inside-the-field home run on a fly ball just out of reach of the Dodgers’ Kevin Kiermaier.
The D-Backs scored three more runs in that inning to take the lead, but the Dodgers responded with a sacrifice fly by Ohtani and an RBI single by Freeman to take a 5-4 lead in the top of the second. Arizona outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. then tied the game with a solo home run in the third inning.
Ohtani’s home run is especially significant as he attempts to achieve an unprecedented 50-home run, 50-stolen base season. The two-time MVP already made series history with his 43rd home run and steal Friday, breaking a tie with Alex Rodriguez for the most of those stats in a single season.
With a month left in the regular season, Ohtani has plenty of room to have a season to remember.