Shohei Ohtani hit two home runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to beat the New York Yankees 8-5 in a rematch of last year’s World Series.

Shohei Ohtani hit two home runs, including a solo shot leading off a four-run sixth inning when the Dodgers rallied to take the lead, and Los Angeles defeated the New York Yankees 8-5 in their World Series rematch on Friday night.

Aaron Judge and Ohtani became the first reigning MVPs to homer in the first inning of a game.

Judge’s 19th homer of the season traveled 446 feet into dead center off Tony Gonsolin (3-1).

JUDGE GOES YARD AT DODGER STADIUM pic.twitter.com/xPq0QCKJ3V

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) May 31, 2025

“They were just taking really good swings. The slider to Judge backed up on me,” said Gonsolin of his four homers allowed and first inning blast to Judge. “I thought I made some good adjustments later in the game. They definitely could have been [picking up my pitches out of the windup], so I made the switch to pitch out of the stretch.”

Tony Gonsolin on his 5-run outing, his 4 homers, and earning the win in the Dodgers 8-5 victory over the Yankees pic.twitter.com/SppougbvO8

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) May 31, 2025

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Ohtani answered with a 417-foot shot on his first pitch from Max Fried.

Shohei Ohtani's league-leading 21st home run! 💪 pic.twitter.com/ln4gYqrfL5

— MLB (@MLB) May 31, 2025

“I think both teams started on a really good note,” Ohtani said through a translator. “I thought it was important to be able to score a run in that situation knowing momentum is really important in a game like today.”

Shohei Ohtani on his 2-homer night against the Yankees in the Dodgers 8-5 victory. pic.twitter.com/aaJuTfmRK4

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) May 31, 2025

Austin Wells homered and Trent Grisham added a two-run shot in the second, giving New York a 4-1 lead. Paul Goldschmidt, another former MVP, homered leading off the third, making it 5-2.

It's the 3rd inning and THREE former MVPs have gone deep! #FridayNightBaseball pic.twitter.com/vzUgpFOlUu

— MLB (@MLB) May 31, 2025

But just like in Game 5 of last year’s World Series, the Yankees blew the lead.

Ohtani’s homer keyed the offense in the sixth, when the Dodgers batted around. Teoscar Hernández and Will Smith singled before Freddie Freeman’s RBI double chased Fried.

Two home runs tonight for Shohei Ohtani and 22 on the year 🤯#FridayNightBaseball pic.twitter.com/aEn9Jp1v2k

— MLB (@MLB) May 31, 2025

Andy Pages followed with a game-tying RBI single off Jonathan Loáisiga (0-1). With the bases loaded, Tim Hill walked Michael Conforto on six pitches, forcing in Pages with the go-ahead run to make it 6-5.

The Dodgers tacked on two more in the seventh. Will Smith singled, Freeman doubled and both scored on Pages’ two-run single off Yerry De Los Santos. Freeman was safe in a close play at the plate after he made a wide turn into the grass coming around third.

Bang-bang play at the plate as the @Dodgers tack on some insurance!#FridayNightBaseball pic.twitter.com/f6JG0aTIGU

— MLB (@MLB) May 31, 2025

“That was just a pretty good ball game right there,” said Freeman of the contest. “To beat Max Fried, who is probably one of the top five pitchers in the game right now, that’s hard to do.”

Freddie Freeman on the World Series rematch with the Yankees, his two doubles tonight in the Dodgers win, that slide at home, and if he was having any flashbacks of Game 1 of the WS. pic.twitter.com/KW2b5bDyBF

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) May 31, 2025

Alex Vesia pitched the ninth to earn his second save.

The teams were meeting for the first time since the Dodgers beat the Yankees to win their eighth world championship.

Key moment

Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott came on with runners at the corners in the eighth and retired pinch-hitter DJ LeMahieu on a flyout to center for the third out. Scott has been rocky lately with blown saves.

Key stat

Gonsolin gave up four homers, one shy of his team record set on Aug. 18, 2023, against Florida.

Up next

Yankees RHP Will Warren (3-2, 4.09 ERA) starts Saturday against Dodgers RHP Landon Knack (2-2, 5.22).