KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Vinnie Pasquantino homered, doubled and drove in a career high-tying five runs, and the Kansas City Royals beat Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-5 on Saturday to snap an 11-game home losing streak.
Ohtani made his third start of the season and threw the fastest pitch of his career, a 101.7 mph fastball that induced an inning-ending double-play grounder by Pasquantino in the first.
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Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a double by Maikel Garcia during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani watches his fly out during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino celebrates in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino hits a two-run double during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
The Dodgers' two-way superstar threw 27 pitches in two scoreless innings. He is working as an opener as he eases back into pitching following Tommy John surgery in 2023. Ohtani went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts as LA's leadoff batter.
Pasquantino’s 430-foot, three-run blast to right-center off Ben Casparius (6-2) capped a four-run fifth inning for the Royals, who won at Kaufmann Stadium for the first time since May 31. They ended a six-game skid overall.
Freddie Freeman went 3-for-3 with a homer for the Dodgers, whose five-game winning streak ended. Infielder Miguel Rojas pitched the eighth.
Seth Lugo (5-5) threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing four hits and five walks while striking out eight.
Casparius relieved Ohtani in the third and quickly allowed three hits and a pair of runs on Maikel Garcia’s two-out double off the left-field wall.
Bobby Witt Jr. hit an RBI single in the fifth before Pasquantino went deep. Pasquantino added a two-run double in the seventh.
Jonathan India and Witt each had four hits as the top four Royals batters finished with 11 hits and eight runs.
LA scored four runs in the ninth.
The Royals' four-run fifth was their biggest inning at home since they scored four in the eighth against the Chicago White Sox on May 8.
The Royals' 15 home-field home runs are the fewest in the majors.
The Dodgers plan to use an opener for Sunday’s series finale against Royals LHP Kris Bubic (6-5, 2.16 ERA).
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Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a double by Maikel Garcia during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani watches his fly out during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino celebrates in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino hits a two-run double during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
