Ohtani Breaks Dodgers Home Run Record in 3-1 Loss to Brewers

Shohei Ohtani set a new Los Angeles Dodgers franchise record by hitting his 31st home run before the All-Star break, surpassing Cody Bellinger's previous record of 30 in 2019, despite the Dodgers' ongoing struggles including a five-game losing streak. Ohtani's homer came off Milwaukee Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski, who rebounded from giving up the leadoff homer by striking out a career-high 12 batters over six innings, helping the Brewers secure a 3-1 win over the Dodgers. The Dodgers' starting pitching continues to be a concern, with veteran Clayton Kershaw allowing two runs and six hits in six innings, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto recently struggled and exited early in another game. Additionally, Ohtani's performance at the plate has shown signs of fatigue likely linked to his return to pitching duties, with a drop in batting average and exit velocity noted since resuming pitching, though manager Dave Roberts remains confident in managing Ohtani's two-way role. Injuries have further impacted the Dodgers, with key player Kike Hernandez placed on the 10-day disabled list due to elbow inflammation, and other players dealing with minor injuries, forcing roster adjustments including promoting James Outman and Julian Fernandez. Despite these challenges, Ohtani continues to be recognized as the team's top player and a major force on the field.