The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs had a mini home run derby to start off their game on Wednesday, Aug. 5.
Shohei Ohtani started the show at Wrigley Field as the first player at bat. He took six pitches from Chicago's Shota Imanaga and then watched a four-seam ball fly into the top of the strike zone and smacked it away. The ball flew into right field and Ohtani casually trotted the bases for his 25th home run of the season.
Andy Pages and Freddie Freeman flied out and then Tommy Edman struck out to end the top of the first inning.
IT'S SHOTIME. pic.twitter.com/FMM67E9ZXR
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 5, 2026
Then, it was Pete Crow-Armstrong's time to shine. All he needed at the top of the order for the Cubs was a single pitch from Eric Lauer to even the score. Lauer wound up
and tossed the ball into the right of the strike zone and PCA smashed it above everyone's heads into center field. He raised his hand to the roaring crowd as he took his turn rounding the bases and made the score 1-1.
one pitch is all it takes! pic.twitter.com/sGPRcPE9up
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 5, 2026
At the bottom of the fifth inning, the Cubs were up 6-1 after another home run from PCA. This one came in the fourth and also sent Tyrone Taylor home, and the 2025 Golden Glove winner had a second-inning RBI double. Dansby Swanson hit his own RBI double in the second inning and Alex Bregman had a single in the fourth that scored their last run.
The Dodgers have lost five consecutive games surrounding thetrade deadline on Monday, Aug 3. Los Angeles made headlines by landing one of the top players, two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shohei Ohtani, Pete Crow-Armstrong trade home runs to open game
