4x MVP Shohei Ohtani Snaps Cold Home Run Drought With Ice Cube in Broadcasting Booth

Shohei Ohtani crushed his first home run since April 26 as he went the opposite field in the third inning against the San Francisco Giants.

4x MVP Shohei Ohtani Snaps Cold Home Run Drought With Ice Cube in Broadcasting Booth

Shohei Ohtani and Ice Cube (Image via X/@LADodgersMuse/MLB)

Shohei Ohtani‘s home run drought came to an end on Tuesday. The 4-time MLB MVP’s cold streak was snapped in the 3rd inning while renowned rapper O’Shea Jackson, also known as Ice Cube, was present in the broadcasting booth during his bobblehead night.

The Los Angeles Dodgers star had been going through a slump. His last home run came on April 26, when he went yard against the Chicago Cubs. In his next 52 plate appearances, the Japanese star failed to hit a home run.

This 11-game homerless drought started raising concern among Dodgers fans. Last year, the two-way star smashed 55 home runs in the regular season and became the 1st player after Alex Rodriguez to have back-to-back seasons with 50 or more home runs. A-Rod had achieved this feat during the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

With 8 home runs and 14 RBIs in the postseason, Ohtani played a key role in the Dodgers defending their title and repeating as champions. He later went on to claim his 4th MVP award.

This year, he has struggled a bit with his batting. On Tuesday, however, he reminded the baseball world why many consider him one of the best in the game, as he smashed an opposite-field home run.

The 31-year-old crushed a solo shot off a 94 mph sinker from San Francisco Giants’ Adrian Houser. The home run from Ohtani in left-centre field put the Dodgers 2-1 up in the third inning. Interestingly, this moment came when Ice Cube joined the broadcasting booth.

As Ohtani was rounding the bases, the cameras would pan towards Ice Cube in the booth. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was seen donning a Dodgers No.26 jersey and cap. While reacting to Ohtani’s home run, he expressed that it could not have been scripted any better.

As he returned to the home run, Ohtani was seen jokingly asking for the baseball. The 5-time MLB All-Star seemingly wanted to keep the ball as evidence that he had broken a long home run drought.

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Dodgers stumble again despite Shohei Ohtani’s home run

Shohei Ohtani snapped an 11-game home run drought on Tuesday, crushing his 7th home run of the year. He eventually went 2-for-4 in this game. Despite this, the Dodgers stumbled again and ended up losing 6-2.

Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani (Image via Dodger Blue)

Ohtani’s home run in the third inning had restored the Dodgers’ lead. Before this shot from him, Eric Haase had tied the game for the Giants with a solo home run.

The Giants then slammed two home runs in the 5th inning. Harrison Bader leveled the game at 2-2 with a solo shot before Haase hit his second home run of the game off Yoshinobu Yamamoto to put the visitors 3-2 up.

A single from Drew Gilbert and a double from Jung Hoo Lee saw the Giants extend their lead to 6-2 in the 7th inning. Yamamoto was credited with the loss as the Dodgers lost again.

This loss was the Dodgers’ 4th successive defeat. The two-time defending champions were 24-14 after winning the series opener against the Atlanta Braves. Since then, they have lost 4 games in a row and are 24-18 for the season.

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Shohei Ohtani to remain out of Dodgers lineup for next 2 games

Shohei Ohtani’s offensive slump this year has raised some eyebrows. While the two-way player did break his home run drought, he will remain out of the team lineup for the next 2 games.

Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani (Image via X/@TalkinBaseball_)

On Wednesday, he will take the mound and work just as a pitcher and not play as the designated hitter (DH) in this game. He will then be out of the lineup on Thursday, due to that being a rest day for him.

As a pitcher, Ohtani has been in great form. In 6 starts, he has a 2-2 record with a low 0.96 ERA and has picked up 42 strikeouts.

Earlier this season, manager Dave Roberts expressed that he expects Ohtani to be in the Cy Young Award conversation. For him to win this award, he will have to beat out some big names, including Paul Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, who once again is dominating the hitters from the mound.

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