On Monday, Ohtani Shohei of the LA Dodgers contributed to the team’s come-from-behind victory, going 4-for-5 with 1 RBI, including a dramatic game-tying home run.
In the 9th inning, with the Dodgers trailing 4-5 and no outs, Ohtani hit a changeup from the Rockies’ sixth pitcher, Halverson, sending a 20-degree liner over center field for a solo home run. Betts’ walk-off homer followed this crucial game-tying home run. manager Dave Roberts praised Ohtani, saying, “To start that ninth inning with Shohei continuing to do what he does, he just doesn’t seem human right now. I really haven’t seen a player as locked like Shohei is for as long as he’s been in quite some time. “
On this day, Ohtani became the first Japanese player to record stolen bases in five consecutive games, adding two more steals to reach 55 stolen bases this season. With both home runs and stolen bases, he has now reached 53-55. He is just one stolen base away from tying Ichiro’s record of 56 stolen bases, the most by a Japanese player, set in 2001.
This season, his 128 runs scored the highest for a Japanese player. Roberts commended Ohtani’s incredible performance: “He wants to win. You can see it. He comes in every day prepared. The jumps that he’s getting to steal bases, to get hits – I think he wants to hit .300 (for the season). You saw his first couple at-bats where he’s taking hits the other way. So to be able to hit .300, hit 50-something homers with 120-something ribbies and steal a bunch of bases – I haven’t spent a whole lot of time with him but it’s hard to imagine him being this focused ever before for this stretch of time.”
Most Commented