Shohei Ohtani's second home run in two games was not enough to extend the Los Angeles Dodgers' four-game winning run as the Chicago Cubs prevailed 9-7 to secure their fifth straight victory, helped by three RBIs by Seiya Suzuki.
Ohtani went deep for two runs with no out in the top of the fifth inning when he pulled Kyle Hendricks' first pitch, a changeup, down the line and into the stand inside the right-field pole at Wrigley Field, his first homer at the ballpark cutting the deficit to 6-4.
The two-way star hit 44 last season with the Los Angeles Angels to win the American League home run title. He endured an eight-game home run drought this year, his longest for the start of an MLB season, but has now moved within two of tying the Japanese MLB home run record of 175 held by Hideki Matsui.
Ohtani went 2-for-5 after doubling in the first, when he scored on a two-run single by Teoscar Hernandez.
The Cubs' five-run second had the home team take control of the game, however, capped by Suzuki's two-run double to right off Bobby Miller's 3-2 four-seamer.
"I'm batting well with a really good rhythm," said Suzuki, who explained his intention actually was not to hit for extra bases given the conditions at the Cubs' home ground.
"The wind is strong at the moment and everyone knows we won't get anything trying to hit a long ball. I know it too from my experience here over the past few years."
Suzuki, who also plated a run in the sixth for a 9-5 lead with a sacrifice fly, wrapped up by joking "the wind does not matter" for Ohtani, who homered to the same side of the field as his double.
Yusei Kikuchi, meanwhile, hurled 5-1/3 shutout innings on seven strikeouts and four hits against the New York Yankees but got no decision as the Toronto Blue Jays went on to win 3-0.
