Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani obliterates two homers, strikes out vs. Athletics position player
May 16 (UPI) — In a thrilling 19-2 Los Angeles Dodgers victory, Shohei Ohtani hit two home runs in a rout of the Athletics, but he was denied another exceptional opportunity when he struck out a position player.
In Thursday’s victory at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers designated hitter went 2 for 5 with two runs scored and six RBIs. With his current season average of.310, Ohtani is tied for the league lead in home runs (15) with Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies and Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees.
On Ohtani’s bobblehead night, over 51,000 fans purchased tickets to witness his heroics. The Dodgers hit 18 hits, including five home runs. Six Dodgers players, including Betts, reached base more than once.
Roberts responded, “We need some more,” when questioned about Ohtani’s bobblehead evenings. “I think that four or five a year isn’t enough, because when he has a bobblehead night, he seems to really perform.”
Shea Langeliers, a catcher, doubled in RBI at the top of the first to give the Athletics a 1-0 lead. However, that Athletics edge didn’t last long.
Shortstop Mookie Betts was plated by first baseman Freddie Freeman with a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the eighth. Three pitches later, third baseman Max Muncy gave the Dodgers a 3-1 lead with a two-run, 408-foot homer.
In the top of the second, Max Schuemann, a second baseman for the Athletics, blasted his first home run of the year. Ohtani answered in the bottom of the second with a sacrifice fly that scored RBI.
Betts singled for RBI after that. Two at-bats later, Betts scored another RBI single to give the team a 6-2 lead.
Hyeseong Kim, the second baseman for the Dodgers, singled for an RBI in the bottom of the third to bring home catcher Dalton Rushing. Then, with two runners on base, Ohtani walked to the plate.
The Dodgers sensation then hit a three-run homer from 382 feet out after a 2-0 changeup to left center field. Later in the inning, Dodgers right fielder Andy Pages hit another three-run home run to give the team a 13-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, Kim was on first base and Ohtani was back at the plate. After working a 3-1 count, he smashed a sinker to center at 90.3 mph for a two-run, 418-foot bomb.
James Outman, an outfielder for the Dodgers, increased the advantage in the sixth inning with a 400-foot single shot.
The Athletics, who were short on arms because of the Dodgers’ outburst, put backup catcher Jhonny Pereda on the mound in the bottom of the eighth. Kim took a 17-2 lead with an RBI double in the inning’s third at-bat.
Then Ohtani approached the plate. That exchange began when Pereda hit a fastball at 62.9 mph into the strike zone. He missed the zone with his second offering.
The following two pitches were fouled by Ohtani. Pereda’s final pitch was a fastball that soared in at 89.4 mph. In order to get a strikeout, Ohtani got a piece of the ball but tipped it into Langeliers’ mitt.
After achieving the uncommon achievement, Pereda grinned. Then, as a memento, he threw the ball into the Athletics dugout.
“I wasn’t even trying to punch him out, I just wanted to face him,” stated Pereda. “That’s the only batter I want to face.”
seasoned shortstop In the following at-bat, Miguel Rojas singled for RBI. Two at-bats later, Muncy scored the game’s last run with a sacrifice fly.
Muncy scored two runs and went three for four with four RBIs. Kim finished three for three with four runs, two walks, and two RBIs.
Over the past 18 games, Ohtani has hit.374 with nine home runs and 20 RBIs. In his last ten games, he hit seven of those home runs.
The Dodgers lead the San Diego Padres (27-15) by one game in the National League West and are tied with the Detroit Tigers for the best MLB record (29-15).
The Seattle Mariners (23-19), who lead the division, are two games ahead of the Athletics (22-22) in fourth place in the American League West.
At 10:10 p.m. EDT on Friday, the Dodgers will play the Los Angeles Angels (17–25), Ohtani’s old team, in Los Angeles. Six games behind the Mariners, the Angels are in last place in the American League West.
At 10:15 p.m. on Friday, the Athletics will play the San Francisco Giants (25-19), who are currently in third place in the National League West.
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