Shohei Ohtani made his fourth start of the season as a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, this time against the Houston Astros, and the third time at Dodger Stadium.
In addition, it was also Ohtani’s first career game as a pitcher on his birthday. Ohtani turned 31-years-old, and prior to the game while he was warming up, the fans at Dodger Stadium shouted “happy birthday” in unison to him.
Ohtani was expected to throw two innings for the second consecutive start. He previously tossed two scoreless against the Kansas City Royals on June 28 after going just one inning in his first two outings.
“It’s his birthday, from what I understand,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s two innings, is the hope and the goal. So it’s going to be two innings, no more than 40 pitches, and then we’ll run Wrobleski out there afterward and and go out there and win a game.”
Isaac Paredes started the game with a single against Ohtani, but then Cam Smith followed by grounding into a double play. José Altuve stepped up to the plate with loud boos from the fans, and grounded out to end the first inning.
At the plate in his first at-bat, Ohtani grounded out to first base. It marked the first time in his four starts this season that he did not strike out in his first at-bat after starting the game as a pitcher.
It was also the fifth time he’s batted immediately after pitching an inning, and he struck out in the previous four at-bats.
In the second inning, Ohtani started by striking out Christian Walker after falling behind 3-1 in the count. He followed that by striking out Victor Caratini for his second of the game, also hitting 100.9 mph with his fastball.
He finished off the inning by striking out the side, getting. Yanier Díaz to chase a sweeper on the seventh pitch. As he walked off the field, “Happy Birthday” was played by Dieter Ruehle.
He finished his outing throwing 31 pitches, putting him just around where the Dodgers hoped he be – maxing out at 40 pitches.
His final line consisted of two innings pitched, allowing one hit, no runs, no walks and striking out three while facing the minimum.
Justin Wrobleski did follow Ohtani, as Roberts said was the plan, taking over in the third inning.
Shohei Ohtani stats on his birthday
On his birthday throughout his career, Ohtani has gone 2-for-23 with a solo homer at the plate. That includes his 0-for-1 to start the game off.
With his first career start on the mound during his big day, Ohtani has pitched two innings without allowing a run, striking out three and allowing one hit.
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