Third time was the charm for Shohei Ohtani as he completed five innings against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night, while also setting a new season high with nine strikeouts.
The Dodgers had previously hoped Ohtani would pitch five innings against the Los Angeles Angels and Colorado Rockies, respectively. He was tracking to do so in Anaheim before running into trouble and being removed with one out in the fifth inning.
Then Ohtani’s start at Coors Field, which was his most recent outing, was cut short in part because of being hit in the right thigh by a line-drive comebacker. Ohtani allowed a season-high five runs on nine hits in just four innings.
Fortunately for the two-way superstar and the Dodgers, there was only bruising from the comebacker and Ohtani remained in the lineup for each ensuing game. The right-hander also remained on track to make his 11th start of the season in the series finale against the Reds.
“The strikeout to walk ratio is really good,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “I think he’s just made a couple bad pitches. I think the Denver start was an outlier as far as the altitude. I just think he’s still throwing the ball well and he’s healthy.
“I do expect a really good one out of him today.”
Ohtani entered 0-1 with a 4.61 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 11.5 strikeouts per nine in 27.1 innings.
Shohei Ohtani pitching vs. Reds
Ohtani’s first pitch of the night was lined into left field for a leadoff single. He then struck out the next two batters before getting Austin Hays to fly out for a scoreless first inning. Ohtani threw 18 pitches in the inning, and his fastest was a 98.9 four-seam fastball to Elly De La Cruz.
More inefficiency and struggles came in the second inning as Ohtani walked Spencer Steer with one out and threw a wild pitch. Jose Trenvino then walked, and Ohtani threw a second wild pitch of the inning. He managed to keep the Reds off the scoreboard yet again by collecting two more strikeouts.
Ohtani began the third inning already at 45 pitches and gave up a solo home run to Noelvi Marte. He settled into a better rhythm after that point was through four innings on 72 pitches.
Ohtani’s leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth broke up Nick Lodolo’s perfect game and helped spark the Dodgers to a four-run inning. He carried that momentum onto the mound and struck out Matt McLain as part of retiring the side in order in the fifth inning.
In addition to making his longest start of the year and setting a new season high in strikeouts, Ohtani’s 87 pitches are the most he’s thrown as a Dodgers starter.
Ohtani threw seven different pitches throughout his outing, led by 23 curveballs. That was followed by 16 sweepers, 15 four-seam fastballs, 11 splitters, eight cutters, seven sliders and seven sinkers.
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