LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani hit a tie-breaking home run in the ninth inning on his bobblehead night, lifting the unbeaten Los Angeles Dodgers over the winless Atlanta Braves 6-5 on Wednesday.

The Dodgers improved to 8-0, the best start ever by a defending World Series champion.

Max Muncy tied the game with a two-run double in the eighth off Atlanta reliever Raisel Iglesias (0-1) after the third baseman’s two errors led to five unearned runs for the Braves early.

Shohei Ohtani belts the game-winning homer in the ninth inning to lead the Dodgers to a 6-5 win over the Braves on April 2, 2025. AP

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is congratulated after hitting a walk-off homer. AP

Atlanta is 0-7 for the first time since opening 0-9 in 2016.

Fans waited hours in line outside the stadium and traffic was snarled for the first of four Ohtani bobblehead giveaways this season.

This one features him holding his 2024 NL MVP award.

Trailing 5-0, the Dodgers clawed back on a two-run homer from Tommy Edman in the second inning and a solo shot by Michael Conforto in the fourth.

Shohei Ohtani’s bobblehead given out by the Dodgers. AP

Jack Dreyer (1-0) got the win in relief.