Ohtani sparks Dodgers with a leadoff homer, leads 7 hitless innings in 4-1 win

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani homered and combined with two other pitchers for seven hitless innings before the Rockies broke up the no-hitter bid in the eighth in a 4-1 win over Colorado on Wednesday night.

Ohtani's 19 1/3-inning scoreless streak ended in the fourth when the right-hander allowed an earned run on Willi Castro’s groundout to second, raising his ERA to 0.82. Ohtani (5-2) earned his third consecutive victory.

He has yet to give up more than two runs in any of his nine starts this season. Ohtani has given up one or no earned runs in eight of his nine starts.

Tanner Scott took over to start the eighth and allowed a two-out single to right by Tyler Freeman after Ohtani and Will Klein combined for seven hitless innings.

Klein started the seventh and retired the side, helped by an inning-ending double play.

Kyle Hurt pitched the ninth to earn his first major league save.

Ohtani struck out seven and walked four. The right-hander left the game after throwing 99 pitches, 56 for strikes.

Ohtani’s 28th career leadoff home run and fourth this season came exactly a week after he went deep on the first pitch of the game before throwing five innings of three-hit ball against the Padres in San Diego on May 20.

His 424-foot shot to dead center came on a 1-1 pitch from countryman Tomoyuki Sugano (4-4). Two batters later, Freddie Freeman went deep, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.

Alex Call's two-out RBI single extended the Dodgers' lead to 3-1 in the fourth.

Andy Pages hit a solo shot to left in the eighth.

Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández exited with a left hamstring strain in the second after running out a groundout to shortstop.

After an off day, Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-7, 7.21 ERA) starts Friday at home against Giants RHP Logan Webb (2-4, 5.06).

After an off day, Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler (4-0, 1.67) starts Friday against Dodgers LHP Justin Wrobleski (6-2, 3.07).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani, right, throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Will Smith, left, is tagged out by Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman as he tries to score on a single by Alex Call during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, left, hits a solo home run as Colorado Rockies pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, center, and catcher Hunter Goodman watch during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

MONTREAL (AP) — Sebastian Aho, Jordan Staal and Logan Stankoven scored in a 2:47 span late in the first period and the Carolina Hurricanes moved within a victory of the Stanley Cup Final, beating the Montreal Canadiens 4-0 on Wednesday night.

Frederik Andersen made 18 saves for his third shutout in 12 postseason games this year to help the Hurricanes take a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Final. Game 5 is Friday night in North Carolina, with the series winner facing the Vegas Golden Knights.

“We have better,” Stankoven said. “It’s great to come out like a team like this and perform like that, but I think at this time of the year you can’t bring your ‘B’ game. You have to bring your ‘A’ game every night.”

Nikolaj Ehlers and Shayne Gostisbehere each had two assists for the Hurricanes. They are the seventh NHL team to win six or more road games to start a postseason.

“Definitely excited,” Gostisbehere said. “Have to take care of business.”

Anderson and the Hurricanes are 11-1 in the first three rounds. They put it away early in Game 4 after winning the previous two games in overtime.

The Hurricanes scored first for the fourth straight game when Aho beat Jakub Dobes with a one-timer from the right circle on a power play with 5:02 left in the first.

Staal followed with 3:53 to go, tipping in K’Andre Miller’s centering pass. Stankoven then finished off a two-on-one with Jason Blake with 2:14 remaining in the period.

“The game’s going to humble you,” Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said. “Whenever you get humbled, you stand tall.”

Andrei Svechnikov had an empty-net goal in the third.

Carolina had a 19-3 shots-on-goal advantage in the third period for a 43-18 overall edge.

“It seemed like the only guy that showed up was Doby,” Montreal defenseman Lane Hutson said. “Wasn’t good enough. Didn’t answer the bell.”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Carolina Hurricanes' Logan Stankoven (22) reacts after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of Game 4 of NHL Eastern Conference final Stanley Cup playoff series action in Montreal, Quebec, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Carolina Hurricanes' Alexander Nikishin (21) checks Montreal Canadiens' Kaiden Guhle during the second period of Game 4 of NHL Eastern Conference final Stanley Cup playoff series game in Montreal on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11) celebrates with teammate Sean Walker (26) after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of Game 4 of NHL Eastern Conference final Stanley Cup playoff series action in Montreal, Quebec, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) reacts as he is scored on by Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11) as Canadiens' Josh Anderson (17) defends during the first period of Game 4 of NHL Eastern Conference final Stanley Cup playoff series action in Montreal, Quebec, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Carolina Hurricanes' Logan Stankoven (22) scores on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) during the first period of Game 4 of NHL Eastern Conference final Stanley Cup playoff series action in Montreal, Quebec, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)