Shohei Ohtani bounces back in start against Twins Shohei Ohtani faced challenges in his start against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night but managed to recover after a difficult stretch of the 2026 season. The game took place at Target Field, where Ohtani, a two-way star for the Dodgers, dealt with a right middle finger blister and left knee inflammation. Despite these issues, he delivered a strong performance that contributed to a 4-3 victory for the Dodgers. The game was marked by early struggles, particularly in the bottom of the second inning. Ohtani and rookie catcher Dalton Rushing experienced miscommunication, leading to a chaotic frame. After allowing a leadoff single to Victor Caratini, two one-out singles, and a passed ball, Minnesota tied the game. Ryan Kreidler then hit a two-run single to give the Twins a 3-1 lead. Ohtani quickly adjusted, taking full control of the pitch-calling duties starting in the third inning. Through interpreter Will Ireton, Ohtani explained the confusion during the second inning. He noted that Rushing misinterpreted the first pitch as an offspeed offering, while Ohtani had intended the second pitch to be a fastball. "There were two pitches called," Ohtani said. "The first one was offspeed. The second pitch was a fastball. Rush thought he was getting an offspeed because I started moving after the first pitch was called, but what I had in mind was the second pitch, which was a fastball." By the third inning, Ohtani had recalibrated his approach, and the results were immediate. He struck out the side in the bottom of the third, fanning Byron Buxton, Kody Clemens, and Josh Bell. The right-hander then retired 13 of the final 15 batters he faced, finishing his start with four consecutive scoreless innings.#shohei_ohtani #minnesota_twins #target_field #dalton_rushing #david_roberts
