Shohei Ohtani opened the scoring with a leadoff home run, his 17th of the season, as the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the Minnesota Twins 2‑1 on Tuesday night.
All‑Star Vote Surge
The blast marked Ohtani’s 30th career major‑league homer and his sixth leadoff homer of the campaign, underscoring his early‑season power surge.
Ohtani now tops the latest MLB All‑Star Game balloting with 2,310,735 votes, a testament to his growing popularity among fans.
In Toronto, Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto added his 17th homer of the season, helping the Blue Jays defeat the Houston Astros 4‑2.
The back‑to‑back performances highlight a vibrant start to the month for both players, who are each enjoying career‑high power numbers.
With the Dodgers now perched atop the National League West and the Blue Jays climbing in the American League East, the early‑season narrative is increasingly centered on the impact of international stars.