Shohei Ohtani put himself into the MLB record book and delivered a walk-off win for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Well before Ohtani’s heroics, the Dodgers found themselves trailing as Bobby Miller allowed three early runs. To Miller’s credit, he managed to get through six innings with just the three runs given up.
Miller surrendered two home runs and seven hits overall but aided his cause by collecting nine strikeouts that helped pitch through traffic. Moreover, Miller’s 18 swinging strikes set a season high.
The Dodgers’ comeback began in the fifth inning when Kiké Hernández lined a game-tying, three-run homer to left field with two outs in the fifth inning.
Time to start the 40-50 tracker for Shohei Ohtani.
(: @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/gXyRPvL6YC
— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 24, 2024
Kiké in a clutch spot? You know the result.
(— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 24, 2024
101 from Kopech!
(— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 24, 2024
You couldn't write a script any more perfect than this.
(— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 24, 2024
Oh man they got Will the Thrill and @kirsten_watson in the Shohei Ohtani water cooler celebration tonight! pic.twitter.com/2yWgC0XBmN
— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 24, 2024
Hernández’s home run not only pulled the Dodgers even but fittingly came on Kobe Bryant’s birthday. Hernández changed his Dodgers jersey number to 8 in honor of Bryant.
The Dodgers then were kept in check until the ninth inning, with Will Smith getting hit by a pitch sparking their rally. Tommy Edman followed with a single, and both runners were then moved into scoring position on Miguel Rojas’ sacrifice bunt.
Max Muncy entered as a pinch-hitter with two outs and kept the inning alive by drawing a walk. That set the stage for a dramatic at-bat with Ohtani on the verge of making MLB history.
He already had reached on an infield single and reached 40 stolen bases in the fourth inning.
Ohtani didn’t wait long as he swung at the first pitch from Colin Poche for a walk-off grand slam. The walk-off home run was Ohtani’s first of his career.
Shohei Ohtani fastest to 40-40
Not only did Ohtani become just the sixth player in MLB history with 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in the same season, but he’s the fastest to accomplish the feat by doing so in 126 games.
The record previously belonged to Alfonso Soriano, who had his 40-40 season in 147 games played.
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