Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff homer and Gavin Stone pitched a four-hitter, propelling the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night. This win marks the Dodgers’ fourth consecutive victory.
Ohtani launched a full-count cut fastball from Erick Fedde deep to right-center for his National League-leading 25th homer. The 437-foot drive had an exit velocity of 113.9 mph.
Ohtani’s third leadoff homer of the season extended his RBI streak to a franchise-record 10 games. The two-time American League MVP also hit a leadoff homer in Los Angeles’ 4-3 victory on Tuesday night.
“There’s been a lot of opportunities with runners on base,” Ohtani said through a translator. “All I’m trying to do is have a quality at-bat. So I think that (RBI streak) is the result of that.”
Stone (9-2) struck out seven and walked none in his first career complete game, providing a significant boost for the National League West leaders after their bullpen pitched 11 scoreless innings in the first two games of the series. The right-hander has improved to 8-1 with a 2.03 ERA in his last 11 starts.
“Just in complete control. Just a dominant performance,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
This was the first complete game for Los Angeles since Walker Buehler pitched a three-hitter in a 4-0 victory at Arizona on April 25, 2022.
“Just tried to focus on just getting guys out and not even worrying about going deep in the game,” Stone said.
Playing in front of their first sellout of the year on Mexican Heritage Night, Chicago was shut out for the 12th time this season. The team went 1 for 21 with runners in scoring position, totaling three runs and 17 hits in the three-game series.
The White Sox have dropped seven of their last eight games, falling to 21-61, 40 games below .500.
Fedde (5-3) allowed four runs and five hits in six innings. He dropped to 4-1 with a 1.64 ERA in seven home starts this season.
Chicago finished the game without right fielder Gavin Sheets, who jammed his left heel and departed before the Dodgers batted in the sixth. X-rays were negative, and the team said Sheets is day-to-day.
White Sox manager Pedro Grifol was ejected by home plate umpire Derek Thomas in the sixth inning.
“I wasn’t particularly too happy with balls and strikes, especially early on our side with Fedde,” Grifol said.
The Dodgers took control with three runs in the third inning. Teoscar Hernández hit a sacrifice fly, and Ohtani walked and scored from first on Freddie Freeman’s two-run double.
“For the most part, I did good after the third inning,” Fedde said. “The one pitch I want back is the one to Freeman, the double.”
