Dodgers Dominate Angels with Historic 9-Run First Inning

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers put on an impressive display on Saturday night, overwhelming the Los Angeles Angels with a remarkable nine-run first inning en route to a 9-2 victory at Dodger Stadium. This performance marked the Dodgers' highest run total in an inning in five years, showcasing their offensive power against their Southern California rivals.

The top of the first saw a barrage of hits as the Dodgers' first six batters all reached base against Angels pitcher Jack Kochanowicz. After retiring just one of the eight hitters he faced, Kochanowicz exited the game after throwing 38 pitches, with the Dodgers already leading 4-0. A fielder’s choice from Alex Freeland, coupled with a throwing error by shortstop Zach Neto, allowed three additional runs to cross the plate.

Adding to the excitement, Shohei Ohtani, who started the inning with a single, delivered a two-run homer off Brent Suter to cap the scoring at nine runs. "A Shohei homer makes it nine runs in the first inning!" the Dodgers tweeted as the crowd erupted in cheers.

This nine-run inning was the Dodgers' largest since they also scored nine in the seventh against the Nationals on July 2, 2021, and it marked their second consecutive game scoring nine runs in a game started by Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Despite having the second-lowest run support among the pitching staff, Yamamoto quickly found his rhythm after allowing an early run due to a triple from Oswald Peraza.

After the first inning, Yamamoto settled down impressively, retiring 22 consecutive batters and finishing the game with a season-high eight innings pitched, allowing only two hits and one run. His performance helped improve his record to 6-4, solidifying his reputation as a reliable starter.

The Dodgers have now swept the Angels in all five matchups this season, outscoring them 41-5 overall. As the teams prepare for their final meeting of the season on Sunday afternoon, the Dodgers will look to continue their dominance with Emmet Sheehan taking the mound against José Soriano.