The Los Angeles Dodgers continued their homestand with a 7-3 walk-off win over the Tampa Bay Rays behind Shohei Ohtani’s record-setting home run.
The two-time MVP became the fastest player in MLB history to post a 40-40 season and only the sixth to do so. He entered the game needing one home run and one stolen base, and checked off both of those in the Dodgers’ victory.
Ohtani stole his 40th base of the season in the fourth inning after reaching on an infield single against Tyler Alexander. Then in the ninth, he hit a walk-off grand slam off Colin Poche to cement his name in the history books.
Ohtani’s 40th home run ball bounced back onto the field, but Rays center fielder Jose Siri threw it back into the stands, via Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times:
So Shohei Ohtani’s 40th HR ball bounced back onto field and #Rays CF Jose Siri … threw it back into the bleachers.
— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) August 24, 2024
It isn’t clear if Siri realized the significance of the home run, or if the fan who obtained the ball gave it back to the Dodgers.
Ohtani was involved in a similar situation this past April when a fan caught his record-setting 176th home run ball and decided to keep it.
Another fan who caught Ohtani’s first home run with the Dodgers agreed to give it back for a pair of autographed hats, an autographed bat and autographed ball.
With roughly five weeks remaining in the regular season, Ohtani will now turn his sights on potentially becoming the first 45-45 or even 50-50 player.
Shohei Ohtani joins 40-40 club
Ohtani became the sixth player to post a 40-40 season, joining Ronald Acuña Jr. (2023), Alfonso Soriano (2006), Alex Rodriguez (1998), Barry Bonds (1996) and Jose Canseco (1988).
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