Ohtani hits 40th homer and Snell overpowers Blue Jays as Dodgers romp to 9-1 rout

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his 40th home run, Blake Snell struck out 10 batters in five shutout innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers routed the Toronto Blue Jays 9-1 on Saturday night.

Max Muncy opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the fourth, and Ohtani connected for a solo shot to center field off starter Chris Bassitt (11-6) in the fifth. It’s the third year in a row and fourth time overall the two-way superstar from Japan has reached 40 homers; the previous three came during MVP seasons.

Los Angeles broke open the game with six runs in the sixth, as rookie Dalton Rushing and Mookie Betts each had a two-run single before Andy Pages tacked on a two-run double for his second hit of the inning.

Snell (2-1) permitted three hits and three walks in his fourth start this season and second since returning Aug. 2 from shoulder inflammation that had sidelined him since early April. It was his 36th career double-digit strikeout game and first with the Dodgers.

The left-hander signed a $182 million, five-year contract with the defending World Series champions as a free agent last offseason.

Ernie Clement homered against reliever Jack Dreyer leading off the Toronto eighth.

Bassitt allowed three runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Key moment

Pages singled to start the sixth and the Dodgers loaded the bases with nobody out on a hit batter and a walk. Rushing’s two-run single made it 5-0 and chased reliever Yariel Rodríguez.

Key stat

Muncy has 16 homers this season — three in five games since returning Monday from a bone bruise.

Up next

Blue Jays LHP Eric Lauer (7-2, 2.59 ERA) has three wins in his last four starts. He’s allowed a combined six earned runs in the last four games.

Dodgers RHP Tyler Glasnow (1-1, 3.06) yielded one earned run over seven innings in a win against St. Louis in his last start.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani hits a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani watches his home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani celebrates in the dugout with his teammates after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell prepares to throw to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

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