Ohtani Hits 2 Homers as Dodgers Rout Rockies 11-5

DENVER — Shohei Ohtani homered twice and went 4 for 5 as the Los Angeles Dodgers routed the Colorado Rockies 11-5 on Monday night at Coors Field, while also delivering encouraging news on his surgically repaired knee.

Ohtani, speaking through an interpreter, said the knee "felt good the next day" following his most recent bullpen session. He is slated for another bullpen session Tuesday and hasn't pitched in a game since July 3 because of irritation in his left knee.

"That's the hope, and that's the reason why we've been pretty careful in the rehab process," Ohtani said. "That's the ideal outcome — to make sure that I come back as soon as possible." He is 8-2 on the mound this season with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings.

At the plate, Ohtani's two homers marked the 25th multi-homer game of his career, and Max Muncy added a three-run shot as the Dodgers' offense finally broke out. The 11 runs were their most since a 12-7 win over San Diego on July 2, following a stretch in which they averaged just 3.4 runs per game while losing 11 of 16.

"Collectively, I liked everything," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "That's who we are. That's what we've been searching for, for quite some time."

Ohtani has now hit safely in 21 straight games at Coors Field, batting .413 with nine homers and 24 RBIs over that stretch. "Just trying to feel good at the plate, just making sure that I'm not too tense," he said. "Just really making sure that I'm contact-oriented."

Freddie Freeman went 3 for 5 with two doubles, Andy Pages was 3 for 4 with a double, and Muncy went 2 for 4 with his 25th homer. Kyle Tucker struggled, going 0 for 5 to fall to 0 for 24 over his last seven games and committing an error in right field. "He's frustrated," Roberts said. "We've got to keep supporting him."

Reliever Edwin Díaz allowed three runs in the ninth inning. "I just hope he doesn't lose his confidence," Roberts said. "I believe in him."