The first 50 home runs in history look like 30 steals! 5th base, including No. 28 gun, Ohtani Overcome the 'worst birthday', LAD 5-3 MIL
Jul 07, 2024
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In the home game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium on the 7th (Korea Standard Time), Ohtani played 2 hits, 1 RBI, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 1 stolen base in 2 at-bats, including his 28th home run of the season. He got all five at-bats on base.
Ohtani, who was hitless in five at-bats on his 30th birthday the previous day and humiliated by striking out six consecutive at-bats, including the last three at-bats against the Arizona Diamondbacks on the 5th, regained his MVP-like strength by raising his batting sense again.
The Dodgers won 5-3 with Ohtani's hard hit and Will Smith's first two-run homer, winning two games in a row.
Ohtani walked in his first at-bat in the first inning, trailing 0-1. He picked Milwaukee right-hander Freddie Peralta's 7th pitch 95.7 miles outside fastball from the full count. Smith then hit a superior two-run home run to turn the tide 2-1. Smith hit his first three home runs in his career the day before, and his first at-bat also hit a home run, setting a four-run homerun record.
The Dodgers added one more point with Andy Pazs' grounder to shortstop to run 3-1 with no outs and runners on the first and third bases.
After two outs in the second inning, Ohtani got on base with a pitch that hit him and then stole second base, recording his 18th stolen base of the season. However, Smith was out with a fly ball to center field, and the inning ended as it was.
In the third at-bat in the fourth inning, when the team was chased 2-3, the Dodgers failed to score due to the failure of a follow-up hit, although they put the runner on the first and second bases and drew a walk to connect the chance with the bases.
Ohtani hit a triple in the fourth tee after two outs in the sixth inning. Right-hander Bryce Wilson hit a 90.5-mile cutter on the sixth pitch to split it between right-center. Third triple of the season. However, Smith did not make it home with a fly to left field.
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Chris Taylor grounded out to third base after leading off Miguel Vargas' solo home run to the left led the score to 4-3.
Ohtani, who then entered the batter's box, hit left-hander Brian Hudson's cutter that fell to the low course of his body 86.1 miles on the second pitch on the one-strike precisely to the sweet spot and connected it with a solo shot that flew well over the center fence with a line drive. He hit his 28th home run of the season with an angle of 23 degrees, a batting speed of 109.9 miles and a flying distance of 430 feet.
It is the first time in four games that Ohtani hit a home run since the Arizona Diamondbacks on the 3rd. As the Dodgers widened their lead by two runs, this home run became a net shot.
Ohtani, the NL home run leader, maintained a five-game gap with second-place Atlanta Braves Marcel Ojuna (23). On the same day, Ozuna drew his 23rd arch of the season against the Philadelphia Phillies and hit a home run for two consecutive days.
Dodgers closer Alex Vesia stopped the top of the ninth inning with a three-out strikeout and secured five saves of the season.
With this, Ohtani marked a batting average of 0.316 (108 hits in 342 at-bats), 28 homers, 65 RBIs, 72 runs, 48 walks, 18 steals, an on-base percentage of 0.402, a slugging percentage of 0.643, OPS 1.045, 53 long hits, and 220 hits. Ohtani can arithmetically mark 50 home runs and 32 steals at the end of the season. The first 50 home runs and 30 steals in history are possible.
The Dodgers, which secured the first two games of this three-game home series against Milwaukee and confirmed the winning series, marked 55 wins and 35 losses to lead the NL West. On the other hand, Milwaukee, the leader of the NL Central, lost three consecutive games to 52-38.
jhno@sportschosun.com
