Ohtani, Hernandez Power Dodgers Past Rangers

Dodgers win seventh game in eight behind homers from stars

Apr. 12, 2026 at 7:39am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a baseball game, with overlapping planes of color and form representing the players and action on the field.Two of baseball's biggest stars, Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez, ignite the Dodgers' offense with early home runs to propel the team to victory.Los Angeles Today

Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff home run and Teoscar Hernandez followed with a three-run shot in the first inning, propelling the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night. Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan earned the win with six innings of four-hit ball and six strikeouts.

Why it matters

The Dodgers have been one of the hottest teams in baseball lately, winning seven of their last eight games. Ohtani and Hernandez, two of the league's top sluggers, provided the early offensive firepower to help the Dodgers continue their strong start to the season.

The details

Ohtani led off the game with a home run, and Hernandez followed with a three-run shot later in the first inning to give the Dodgers an early 4-0 lead. Sheehan, a promising young Dodgers pitcher, turned in a solid outing to earn the win.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 12, 2026.

The players

Shohei Ohtani

A two-way star for the Los Angeles Dodgers, known for his elite pitching and power hitting.

Teoscar Hernandez

An All-Star outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, known for his consistent power production at the plate.

Emmet Sheehan

A promising young starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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What they’re saying

“Shohei and Teoscar really set the tone for us early with those big swings. When our top guys are hitting like that, it makes everything else fall into place.”

— Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager

What’s next

The Dodgers and Rangers will play the rubber match of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon.

The takeaway

The Dodgers' powerful offense, led by stars like Ohtani and Hernandez, has been a major factor in their recent surge. If they can continue to get production from their top hitters, they will be a tough team to beat in the competitive NL West.