Ohtani, Hernandez Power Dodgers Past Rangers

Dodgers' stars lead the way in 6-3 victory over Texas

Apr. 12, 2026 at 4:20am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game in motion, with sharp planes of bright colors and overlapping shapes representing the dynamic offensive plays.The Dodgers' star-studded lineup flexes its muscles in a decisive victory over the Rangers.Los Angeles Today

Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez hit first-inning home runs to power the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-3 win over the Texas Rangers. Ohtani's solo shot tied the game, and Hernandez followed with a three-run blast to give the Dodgers an early lead. Pitcher Emmet Sheehan settled in after a rocky start, working six innings and striking out six. The Dodgers bullpen closed out the win, with Blake Treinen and Alex Vesia securing the final outs.

Why it matters

The Dodgers entered the game with the best record in MLB and continued their strong start to the season, powered by their star-studded lineup. The win extends their recent hot streak and keeps them atop the standings in the competitive NL West.

The details

Ohtani led off the bottom of the first with a home run to tie the game at 1-1 after the Rangers had taken an early lead. Hernandez then followed with a three-run shot to give the Dodgers a 4-1 advantage. The Dodgers added another run in the third but the Rangers closed the gap to 5-3 on a two-run homer by Brandon Nimmo in the sixth. Hernandez added an RBI double in the eighth to provide some insurance. Sheehan pitched well overall, settling down after the early home run, and the Dodgers bullpen closed out the win.

  • Ohtani hit his 9th home run of the season in the bottom of the 1st inning.
  • Hernandez hit a 3-run home run in the bottom of the 1st inning.
  • Nimmo hit a 2-run home run for the Rangers in the top of the 6th inning.
  • Hernandez hit an RBI double in the bottom of the 8th inning.

The players

Shohei Ohtani

The Los Angeles Dodgers' star slugger who hit a game-tying home run in the 1st inning.

Teoscar Hernandez

The Dodgers' outfielder who hit a 3-run home run in the 1st inning and an RBI double in the 8th inning to power the Dodgers' offense.

Emmet Sheehan

The Dodgers' starting pitcher who settled in after an early home run and worked 6 innings, striking out 6 batters.

Brandon Nimmo

The Texas Rangers' outfielder who hit a leadoff home run in the 1st inning and a 2-run home run in the 6th inning.

Jack Leiter

The Texas Rangers' starting pitcher who faced the Dodgers' powerful lineup.

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What they’re saying

“We came out swinging and got some big hits early to set the tone. Sheehan settled in nicely after that first inning and the bullpen did their job to close it out.”

— Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager

What’s next

The Dodgers and Rangers will wrap up their three-game series on Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.

The takeaway

The Dodgers' powerful lineup continues to lead the way as they extend their hot start to the season. Ohtani and Hernandez provided the early fireworks, while the pitching staff did enough to secure the victory. The Dodgers remain one of the top teams in baseball and will look to keep rolling in the series finale against the Rangers.