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Ohtani's 8-K Pitch Wins Dodgers; Rushing's Passed Ball Costs Twins

6/26/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Shohei Ohtani pitched six innings with eight strikeouts as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Twins 4–3.
Dalton Rushing’s miscommunication led to a passed ball that allowed a run to score.
After Rushing disputed a pitch call, a review ruled it a strike.
Rushing finished 0-for-4, batting .245 this season with eight homers and 22 RBIs.
Dave Roberts and Freddie Freeman spoke with Rushing in the dugout to offer support.

History

Historical Context

The 1998 home-run race, in which Mark McGwire hit a record 70 homers and Sammy Sosa 66, revived power hitting and prompted MLB to expand international scouting. That scouting pipeline helped the Los Angeles Dodgers acquire Shohei Ohtani, whose dual-role performance now drives global fan interest. The same year the Yankees set a 114-win regular-season record and MLB grew to 30 teams, underscoring the era’s dramatic shift.

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Story summary

Shohei Ohtani pitched six innings with eight strikeouts as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Twins 4–3.
Dalton Rushing’s miscommunication led to a passed ball that allowed a run to score.
After Rushing disputed a pitch call, a review ruled it a strike.
Rushing finished 0-for-4, batting .245 this season with eight homers and 22 RBIs.
Dave Roberts and Freddie Freeman spoke with Rushing in the dugout to offer support.

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