'40-40 over 50-50 paces' Ohtani 38 gun-36,37 steal explosion...LAD 2-5 STL
Aug 18, 2024
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In an away game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on the 18th (Korea Standard Time), Ohtani played an active role in the at-bat and base by hitting one hit, one RBI, two runs, one walk, and two steals in three at-bats, including a home run.
Ohtani, who marked his 38th home run of the season and his 36th and 37th stolen bases in succession, will become the sixth player in Major League history to hit 40 home runs and 40 steals if he adds two home runs and three steals.
Club 40-40 was opened by Jose Canseco in 1988 and joined in the order Barry Bonds in 1996, Alex Rodriguez in 1998, Alfonso Soriano in 2006 and Ronald Acuña Jr in 2023. Acuña Jr. marked 41 home runs and 73 steals last year, his first 40-70 record.
If Ohtani maintains his current pace, he will reach 50 home runs and 48 steals in the season. The first 45-45 in history is achievable, and 50-50 is also a pace worth pursuing.
Ohtani, who showed signs of prolonging his slump by going 0-for-5 the previous day, is expected to have set the stage for a turnaround by recording all of his home runs, walks, RBIs, runs scored and stolen bases.
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He then ran to second base while a 93-mile outside fastball became a ball in the fourth pitch at Mookie Betts' at-bat, and was safe. Catcher Wilson Goncreras' throw was accurately delivered to the right of second base, and second baseman Nolan Gorman caught it and tried to tag it, but Ohtani's foot had already touched the base. Ohtani, who advanced to third base with Betts' deep fly ball to left, homered on Freddie Freeman's heavy hit and scored the first run.
Ohtani, who entered as a leadoff hitter again in the third inning when the score was tied at 1-1, got on base with a strikeout not-out and succeeded in stealing for the second time. While Palante's 4th 81-mile curve in the two-strike went one-bound, hit the catcher, and ran to first base only when the center recognized the check swing while flowing toward the dugout at third base. Betts then stole second base again while he was out with a fly ball to right field and a 94.8-mile fastball toward his body became a ball at Freeman's at-bat. Catcher Contreras started so fast that he didn't try to throw. However, Freeman struck out swinging and Teoscar Hernandez stepped down on a fly to right field, failing to advance further.
Ohtani hit a home run in his third at-bat. He pulled an 80.3-mile curve that fell into the middle of Palante's third pitch from 1B1S after two outs in the fifth inning, trailing 1-3, and connected it with a solo shot that went well over the right-center fence. The ball, which flew like a clothesline at a launch angle of 21 degrees and 111.9 miles, fell into the St. Louis bullpen behind the left fence. The distance is 384 feet.
It is the first time in four days and four games since Ohtani hit a home run against the Milwaukee Brewers on the 14th. 38th Arch of the season. Ohtani finished the day with a left field fly in the eighth inning, trailing 2-4.
With this, Ohtani marked a batting average of 0.291 (139 hits in 478 at-bats), 38 home runs, 87 RBIs, 93 runs, 67 walks, 37 steals, 0.379 on-base percentage, 0.611 slugging percentage, 0.990, 72 long hits, and 292 doubles. He remained No. 1 in NL home runs, runs, slugging percentage, OPS, slugging, and Rutta.
However, the Dodgers lost 2-5. The Dodgers, who marked 72 wins and 52 losses, maintained the top spot in the NL West, but their gap with the second-place San Diego Padres narrowed to two games.
jhno@sportschosun.com
