The New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers clashed in a battle that had fans on the edge of their seats for nine intense innings. When the dust settled, it was Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers who raised their arms in triumph, claiming an electrifying 8-5 win before a roaring crowd of 53,276. If this was a taste of the upcoming World Series — a sequel to their epic 2024 showdown — then October can’t come soon enough.
From the moment the game kicked off, it had all the ingredients of a classic. Luxury suites commanded prices up to $15,000, the clubhouses buzzed with over a hundred reporters, and Hollywood stars dotted the stands, soaking in the spectacle on a cool May evening.
The fireworks began instantly. Aaron Judge blasted a towering 446-foot home run into center field to open the scoring in the first inning. But Ohtani wasn’t about to be outdone. He retaliated with a 417-foot homer in the bottom half of the inning. “I thought he was copying me,” Judge joked. “He’s impressive—one of the best players in the game for good reason.”
This moment made history: it was the first time in MLB, including postseason play, that two reigning MVPs homered in the same inning. A stunning milestone for baseball fans everywhere.
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy summed it up perfectly: “If you’re a baseball fan, it doesn’t get much better than that. The atmosphere was electric. It felt special being part of it.”
Five home runs flew over the fences in the first three innings, with the Yankees pounding four of them. But by the night’s end, it was Ohtani and the Dodgers who outlasted, outscoring Yankees ace Max Fried and their bullpen. Fried, coming in with a pristine 7-0 record and a minuscule 1.29 ERA, gave up six earned runs—his season high—in a game that slipped away after the Dodgers erupted for four runs in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh. It echoed last year’s Game 5 World Series heartbreak, where the Yankees gave up a 5-0 lead in the fifth.
“Both teams started strong,” Ohtani reflected, “but scoring in those key moments really shifted momentum, which is crucial in today’s game.”
Ohtani stole the spotlight, launching his 21st and 22nd homers of the season—15 of them in May alone—tying a franchise record last set in 1985. He also set a new Dodgers record with 22 homers in the first 57 games, pacing toward an astonishing 63 homers and 173 runs scored this season.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts put it best: “Shohei might say it’s just another game, but when you see the other reigning MVP on the other side performing like that, it sparks even more fire in him.”
Judge played the perfect foil, notching his American League-leading 19th home run, his 15th double, and maintaining a jaw-dropping .392 batting average with a 1.236 OPS. “This is Yankee baseball at its finest,” Judge said, “especially against the Dodgers, who are off to such a great start. The energy was just incredible.”
The rivalry between these two storied franchises harkens back to the glory days when they met 11 times in the World Series over four decades—and, of course, last season’s thrilling rematch. For a night in May with more than 100 games left to play, the game delivered on every promise.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone marveled at the talent on display: “There were so many MVPs and All-Stars on the field tonight. Judge had a phenomenal game with the homer, the double, and a standout defensive play. The stars really showed up.”
Judge summed it up succinctly: “This is why I signed here — to play in the big moments, the big games, and for the best team.”
On this night, the reigning champions—the Dodgers—held the upper hand again. While they didn’t taunt the Yankees as they did in the offseason, the Dodgers’ public address announcer reminded the crowd just before first pitch that the Dodgers were defending World Series champions, playing highlights of Freddie Freeman’s unforgettable walk-off grand slam from Game 1.
“We love superstars,” Roberts said. “Starting the game with Judge’s homer, then Shohei’s answer, was thrilling for everyone. It was a huge win for us. The intensity was palpable—both managers managed with urgency because we both wanted this badly.”
In the end, the Dodgers emerged victorious thanks to the brilliance of Ohtani. “Every time he steps to the plate,” Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin said, “we expect something incredible. And he rarely lets us down. Having him on our team is truly special.”
The rivalry continues this Saturday for round two of a three-game battle, with the baseball world fixated on the showdown between Judge and Ohtani—two of the greatest players in the game today.
“I try not to think about it,” Judge said. “I’ve got a job to do on the field. The hype’s for you guys, not me.”
