"I've been bad so far..." Ohtani, who was burdened, wrote the history of the All-Star Game again...a home run pitcher "Swingers are flawless."
Jul 17, 2024
|
|
In the 94th All-Star Game held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on the 17th (Korea Standard Time), Ohtani played an active role with one hit, three RBIs, one run and one walk in two at-bats, including a home run.
Ohtani hit a home run at the top of the third inning when the 0-0 balance continued.
The National League (NL) had a chance to hit the first and second bases with no outs in the third inning due to the right-handed hit by the leadoff Jurickson Profar (San Diego) and the second baseman error by Ketel Marte (Arizona). Ohtani, who entered the second at-bat after drawing a walk in his first at-bat in the first inning, hit a three-run shot that went well over the right fence.
When an 88.7-mile splitter fell into the middle of the third pitch on a two-ball against Tanner Hauc (Boston), the third pitcher of the American League (AL), he pulled it as it was and crossed the right fence well. Statcast measured the home run at a launch angle of 29 degrees, a batting speed of 103.7 miles, and a distance of 400 feet (122 meters).
It was Ohtani's first home run in the Major League All-Star Game. It came in four games and eight at-bats since its first participation in 2021.
However, Ohtani became a winning pitcher in the 2021 All-Star Game at Coors Field in Denver. Ohtani, who took the mound as an AL starter at the time, pitched well and was replaced with no hits and no runs for three batters in one inning in the bottom of the first inning, and Ohtani, who threw in the first inning after AL scored the first run with Marcus Simien's timely hit in the top of the second inning, kept the lead until the end.
|
After the game, Ohtani said, `So far, I haven't hit the ball that well in the All-Star Game. He expressed his feelings, saying, "I'm going to open my heart only when I hit a good ball today."
Ohtani's home run is the 10th all-star game for a Dodgers player, and it is the first time in 28 years since Mike Piaja's solo home run to the left in the bottom of the second inning from Cleveland Indians Charles Betting at Betteran Stadium in 1996.
It is the second home run in the All-Star Game by a Japanese player since Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners in 2007. In the All-Star Game held at AT&T Park that year, Ichiro hit an inside-the-park two-run home run from Chris Young in the top of the fifth inning.
Ohtani was previously selected as the NL designated hitter in the All-Star fan vote, becoming the first player to start the All-Star Game for four consecutive years.
Hauke, who hit a home run by Ohtani, said "A good hitter is having a good season. It doesn't look like there are many flaws in the swing. All a pitcher can buy is to throw his ball as well as he can."
Hauke then went on to "Maybe I had to throw it a little low or outward. I think all the hits I got were hit well by hitters, but if the batter does his best, he can't easily get out. "We have to throw more elaborately against one or two top classes among the nine line-ups."
Hauke almost lost the game by giving up four hits, including a home run, and allowing three runs in one inning in the third inning, but AL hitters later turned the tide. Hauke, who played in his first All-Star Game in his career, started 19 games in the first half and pitched 117 innings with an 8-6 record, 2.54 ERA and 112 strikeouts. She is one of the nominees for the AL Cy Young Award.
jhno@sportschosun.com
