Shohei Ohtani’s two-way skills on display in shutout win over Padres

May 20, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) delivers during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images The Dodgers had a lead on the very first pitch of the game, while the Padres couldn’t scratch across a single run as the Dodgers took the series by shutting out San Diego 4-0 on Wednesday. Shohei Ohtani smacked his second leadoff home run of the season, as he attacked the first pitch of the game from Randy Vásquez just over the leaping Jackson Merrill to give the Dodgers an immediate 1-0 lead.

His 21st leadoff home run as a Dodger is now tied with Joc Pederson for the third most in franchise history. Ohtani is now the first starting pitcher to hit a leadoff home run one the first pitch of the game in both the regular season and playoffs. SHO'ING OFF ON THE FIRST PITCH OF THE GAME.

pic. twitter. com/AJalWtBWl8 — Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 21, 2026 The Dodgers made sure that Ohtani didn’t have to everything all at once, as a sacrifice fly from Teoscar Hernández in the top of the second made it a two-run lead.

The Dodgers went down quietly the second time through the lineup, but after chasing Vásquez out of the game in the fifth, Kyle Tucker greeted reliever Wandy Peralta with an RBI single to right to make it a three-run lead. It always helps when a team can get immediate run support from their pitcher in the leadoff spot, as Ohtani continued to dazzle on the mound, throwing three perfect innings to begin his night with three strikeouts. The perfect game and no-hit bid came to a crash in the fourth inning by allowing a walk and a single, but Ohtani got a pair of flyouts from Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts to keep the Padres off the board.