PITTSBURGH – In a monumental night for Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, the 22-year-old slugger achieved a historic milestone, recording his 100th career home run while representing the Dodgers. However, the Pittsburgh Pirates managed to spoil the celebratory occasion with a decisive 9-7 victory on Tuesday evening. Ohtani’s impressive solo shot, delivered off Pittsburgh prospect Bubba Chandler (2-0), was a truly remarkable display of power, registering as the second-hardest hit home run in Major League Baseball this season, clocking in at an astounding 120 mph. This landmark achievement marked the 46th home run of Ohtani’s burgeoning MLB career, and, according to ESPN Research, it represented the hardest-hit ball of his entire professional career. Playing his 294th game with the Dodgers, Ohtani’s accomplishment solidified his position as the fastest player in Dodgers franchise history to reach the 100-home run mark. He surpassed the long-standing record previously held by legendary slugger Gary Sheffield, who required 399 games to reach this milestone. Prior to joining the Dodgers, Ohtani’s journey to 100 home runs took 444 games with the Los Angeles Angels. The race to 100 home runs with a single team is exceptionally rare, with only a select few players throughout baseball history achieving this feat faster than Ohtani. The names that stand out are the legendary Mark McGwire and the iconic Babe Ruth, showcasing the immense talent required to reach this extraordinary level of offensive prowess.

Following Ohtani’s historic home run, Teoscar Hernandez capitalized on a two-out RBI single, extending the Dodgers’ lead. Immediately following, Andy Pages ignited the offense by leading off the next inning with his 24th home run of the season, swiftly tying the score at 4-4. The Pirates, however, refused to concede the advantage, with Henry Davis regaining the lead with an RBI single off Edgardo Henriquez (0-1) in the sixth inning. Jared Triolo delivered a crucial two-out, two-run double, further bolstering the Pirates’ offensive efforts.

Bubba Chandler, despite giving up three runs and six hits in his four innings of relief, demonstrated resilience and potential, boasting two wins and a save in his initial three major league appearances. Dennis Santana expertly closed out the ninth inning, retiring the final three batters for his 12th save, showcasing his control and composure under pressure. Clayton Kershaw, despite yielding four runs and four hits in the first inning, recovered admirably, pitching effectively for five innings and denying the Pirates any further hits, while issuing just two walks during the final four frames. The Associated Press contributed to this report.