Finally, his dream has come true. Los Angeles Dodgers’ superstar Shohei Ohtani (30) became the club with 50 homers and 50 steals as he hit three consecutive home runs.
Ohtani started as the first designated hitter in an away game against the Miami Marlins in the 2024 Major League Baseball at Rondipo Park in Miami, Florida on the 20th (Korea Standard Time).
Ohtani (designated hitter), Mookie Betts (right fielder), Freddie Freeman (first baseman), Will Smith (catcher), Tommy Edman (striker), Max Muncy (third baseman), Gavin Lux (second baseman), Andy Farggs (middle fielder), and Chris Taylor (left fielder) were among the starting pitchers in the lineup on the day. Right-hander Jack Flaherty was the starting pitcher.
In response, Miami placed Javier Edwards (striker), Connor Novi (third baseman), Jesus Sanchez (left fielder), Jake Berger (first baseman), Jonah Bride (designated hitter), Kyle Starworth (middle fielder), Otto Lopez (second baseman), Griffin Conine (right fielder), and Nick Portes (catcher) in the 1st to 9th batting order, and right-hander Edward Cabrera was the starting pitcher.
Ohtani, who added one stolen base and recorded his 49th stolen base of the season against Miami the previous day (19th), was busy from the beginning of the first inning.
Ohtani, who was the leadoff hitter in the top of the first inning, hit a double to the right without missing Cabrera’s changeup of 94.8 miles per hour on the fifth pitch with the ball count of 2B 2S. Ohtani’s 33rd double of the season. Betts was withdrawn due to flyout to the second baseman, but Freeman drew a walk, allowing the Dodgers to continue its chances with runners on the first and second bases with one out.
Ohtani boldly attempted to steal third base and was declared safe. He thus successfully stole his 50th base of this season. It is the second time in the history of a Japanese Major Leaguer who stole 50 bases in a single season. Prior to Ohtani, Ichiro Suzuki was the only one who left 56 steals in 2001.
The Dodgers, who continued their chances with Ohtani’s stolen base, were able to take a 1-0 lead with third baseman Ohtani scoring as Smith hit a sacrifice fly to right field.
Ohtani’s next at-bat came back quickly. In the top of the second inning, when leadoff hitter Muncy got on base with a walk and Lux got on base with an infield hit to shortstop, the Dodgers had a chance to get on the first and second bases with no outs and no outs, and quickly got the second out as Farggies struck out and Taylor’s well-hit ball was caught by right fielder Conine.
However, the Dodgers had Ohtani. Ohtani picked Cabrera’s first pitch ball with two outs and runners on the first and second bases, and hit a 93.5-mile changeup that entered the second pitch, making a timely hit to the right. Muncy, a runner on the second base, scored, and Lux, a runner on the first base, settled on the third base. Thanks to Ohtani’s timely hit, the Dodgers took a 2-0 lead.
In the ensuing at-bat by Betts, Ohtani made another bold move, considering that the second base was empty. Ohtani stole second base. Miami battery completely lost its timing, but was frozen due to Ohtani’s steal of second base. catcher Portes even couldn’t throw to second base. It was Ohtani’s 51st stolen base of this season. This time, Ohtani’s steal did not lead to a run. As Betts ended up swinging and striking out, Dodgers ended its offense in the top of the second inning.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Dodgers were chased 2-1 by Berger after hitting a solo home run in left-center, but succeeded in winning the game early by adding five more runs in offense in the top of the third inning. Smith got on base with a hit ball after one out, and Edman had a heavy hit. Muncy also drew a walk and took a bases-loaded opportunity with one out, leading the Dodgers to a 3-1 lead as Lux picked up a pushout walk. In addition, the Dodgers, who took a 4-1 run with a pushout walk, were able to widen the gap to 5-1 thanks to Taylor’s sacrifice fly to right field.
This was not the end of the game. With two outs and runners on the first and third bases, Ohtani hit a four-seam fastball of 95.2 mph, which entered the sixth ball after a close game with left-hander Anthony Beneciano, and exploded a timely double to the center of left. It was a timely hit by both runners. Ohtani ran to the third base while throwing the ball away, but failed to prevent the inning from ending due to a tag-out. Still, the Dodgers was satisfied with Ohtani’s timely two-run double that gave it a 7-1 lead.
When the Dodgers was chased 7-3 by Conine in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-run homer over the right-center field, Ohtani took out a long-range shot this time. In the top of the sixth inning, leadoff hitter Fazis hit a mid-range hit, and Taylor hit a grounder to the shortstop to send first baseman Fazis to second base. Ohtani got a chance to hit a runner on the second base with one out and runners on the second base, and faced off right-handed pitcher George Soriano. Ohtani, who sent the strike on the first pitch, hit an 85.4 mph slider, and the hit led to a two-run homer over the right-center field. Ohtani’s 49th homer of this season hit the homer. It was like a 9-3 run by the Dodgers.
Now, the Dodgers has one homerun left until the long-awaited 50-50. In the top of the seventh inning, the Dodgers laid the groundwork for Ohtani. In the top of the seventh inning, Edman walked to the base, Muncer hit a hit to the right, and Lux walked to get the bases loaded with one out, adding two more runs as Farraghs hit a timely double to the left. In addition, third baseman Lux scored on a wild pitch, leading the Dodgers to a 12-3 lead.
Ohtani, who had four hits including a home run, was like a runaway train without stopping. Ohtani, who faced right-handed pitcher Mike Bowman with two outs and a third base chance, pushed an 89.1-mile knuckle curve entering the fourth pitch at the ball count of 1B 2S, and the hit led to a two-run homer over the left fence. Ohtani’s 50th homer of this season. Ohtani has made history to join the 50-50 club for the first time in the Major League history. It was like a 14-3 run by the Dodgers. 안전놀이터
Ohtani was not satisfied with his 50-50 victory. In the top of the ninth inning, when Muncy got on base with a pitch ball, and Taylor hit a hit to the right, the Dodgers gave Ohtani a chance with runners on the first and second bases with two outs. Miami sent out infielder Vidal Bruhan as a pitcher, and Ohtani hit a 68.3-mile fastball that entered the third pitch with the ball count of 2B, exploding a three-run homer to the right-center field. Ohtani’s 51st homer of this season. The Dodgers widened the gap to 17-3 again.
In the end, the Dodgers won the game 20-4, recording 91 wins and 62 losses overall in the season. Ohtani showed off his strength to make six hits, 10 RBIs, four runs and two steals from six times at bat through the ninth inning. Ohtani, who played in 150 games this season, has a batting average of .294, on-base percentage of .376, slugging percentage of .629 and OPS of 1.005, and 51 steals, raising his chance of winning the National League MVP award.
In a home game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium on the 24th of last month, Ohtani became the first Asian major leaguer to record a 40-40 game in the bottom of the ninth inning with a walk-off grand slam that confirmed the Dodgers’ 7-3 victory. The only players who joined the 40-40 club were Jose Canseco (42 home runs – 40 steals) in 1988, Barry Bonds (42 home runs – 40 steals) in 1996, Alex Rodriguez (42 home runs – 46 steals) in 1998, and Ronald Acuña Jr. (41 home runs – 73 steals) in 2023. Ohtani is not satisfied with this and has opened a new 50-50 horizon. Eric Thames (47 home runs – 40 steals) is the only player who joined the 40-40 club in 2015, and Kim Do-young, who has 37 home runs – 39 steals this season, is challenging the 40-40 game. In the Japanese professional baseball, no player has recorded a 40-40 record.