Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani hit homers as Dodgers beat Marlins again

MIAMI — Freddie Freeman doesn’t visit as often as he used to. But he still owns a time-share in the heart of Miami.

Freeman continued his career-long abuse of the Miami Marlins and Shohei Ohtani offered a quick reprise to his most recent visit as the Dodgers cruised to a 7-4 victory on Monday night.

In his first game back at the birth site of the 50/50 club, Ohtani ripped a two-run home run in the fifth inning, a 117.9 mph laser over the wall in right field that could have slipped comfortably into the highlight package from his six-hit, three-home run, 10-RBI, two-steal game at LoanDepot Park last September. He also stole a base Monday, the second time this season he has had a steal and a homer in the same game after doing it a record 14 times during his historic 54-homer, 59-stolen base season in 2024.

“Really good memories, just with the accomplishments last year and playing in the WBC,” Ohtani said through his interpreter, recalling the 2023 championship game of the WBC played at LoanDepot Park. “We had a really good game today as well. This is one of my favorite stadiums.”

Freeman has been tormenting the Marlins even longer.

Thanks to 12 seasons in the National League East with the Atlanta Braves, Monday was Freeman’s 214th game against the Marlins. When he hit a two-run home run off Sandy Alcantara in the third inning, it was the 41st home run he has hit against the Marlins, the most he has against any opponent in his career.

Over those 214 games, Freeman has gutted Marlins pitching for 253 hits (also the most he has against any opponent), 132 RBIs and a .320 batting average – numbers that should merit a thank you in his Hall of Fame speech some day.

“I don’t know the exact numbers, but I guess I’ve hit a few home runs against them in my career,” Freeman said.

“It’s just I’ve played a long time against the Marlins. I’ve played a long time in this league. I don’t know what it is. I don’t have an answer for it. I guess I just play good at the right time, or I’ve just played a lot.”

Freeman added a single to his home run on Monday, extending a hitting streak to 10 games during which he has gone 17 for 38 with three doubles, three home runs and 12 RBIs.

Teoscar Hernandez also had an RBI double as the top of the lineup continued to fuel a Dodgers’ offense that has scored 73 runs in its past nine games – 41 of them in four victories over the Marlins. Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freeman and Hernandez combined for seven hits, five runs scored and five driven in Monday.

But Hernandez left the game in the fourth inning with discomfort in his left hamstring. He felt it tighten up while running down a fly ball in the gap and will go for an MRI on Tuesday. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged it was “a little concerning given the person” and Hernandez’s unwillingness to come out of the lineup.

Roberts said the Dodgers will have a player from Triple-A travel to Miami to be placed on the taxi squad or potentially be activated if Hernandez has to go to the injured list. His RBI in the first inning Monday was his major-league-leading 34th of the season.

“Tomorrow will be telling,” Roberts said.

Chris Taylor had an RBI double after replacing Hernandez and Michael Conforto ended an 0-for-30 stretch with a single in the sixth inning. Hyeseong Kim went 2 for 4 with a stolen base, a run scored and an RBI in his first major-league start.

“It was my first start, but I always want to contribute to the team,” Kim said through his interpreter. “The fact is that I was able to contribute to the team today, so I’m really happy for that.”

Roberts said Kim’s performance as a pinch-runner Sunday and in the lineup Monday had earned him another start on Tuesday.

“Honestly I just think everyone loves Hyeseong Kim. Everyone does,” Roberts said. “Everyone’s pulling for him. Everyone’s happy. He’s just a great teammate.

“There’s just humility. I think people just appreciate genuineness. He’s just a nice guy. That’s refreshing.”

The ample offense provided a security blanket for the Dodgers’ latest ‘bullpen game,’ this one featuring a bulk-y effort from Ben Casparius.

Jack Dreyer retired the first four Marlins then handed off to Casparius, who pitched into the sixth inning, allowing just one run. Alex Vesia and Evan Phillips handled their business but Yoendrys Gomez gave up a 424-foot, three-run home run to Augustin Ramirez in the eighth inning that made the final score tighter.