'After hitting the 47th gun, he stole 48 with determination' Ohtani crossed the 9.5 ridge to the long-awaited 50-50
Sep 12, 2024
|
Ohtani played as a leadoff designated hitter in the home game against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium on the 12th (Korea time), recording his 47th home run of the season in his first at-bat and his 48th stolen base of the season in his second at-bat.
In the bottom of the first inning, when Ohtani was trailing 0-2, he pulled an 85.9-mile slider in the middle of the fourth pitch in the 1B2S against Cubs left-handed starter Jordan Wicks and hit a line drive to the right side of the fence in the middle.
It was a home run that flew like a bullet with a firing angle of 19 degrees, a batting speed of 118.1 miles (190 kilometers), and a flying distance of 405 feet (123.4 meters). Ohtani, who confirmed the home run as soon as he sprinted to first base, ran on the base with his right hand raised and cheered. The gesture of joy was bigger than any other home run.
It is the first time in three games that Ohtani has hit a home run since the home game against the Cleveland Guardians on the 9th. In that game, Ohtani hit a solo home run that went well over the right foul pole in the bottom of the fifth inning. Ohtani has hit 10 home runs in his last 23 games. The pace is not falling down.
This brings Ohtani to more home runs than the five players who joined the 40-40 club first. The previous record was 46 homers (41 steals) by Alfonso Soriano in 2006.
After Ohtani's home run in the first inning, the Dodgers turned the tide to 5-2, with three consecutive hitters, Teoscar Hernandez's hit, Tommy Edman's two-run shot to the left, Will Smith's solo shot to the left-center, and Max Muncy's solo shot to the right-center.
|
In the ball count 1S, Wicks quickly started while throwing a high fastball outside 91.9 miles on the second pitch, making it safe at second base. Since stealing second base in the eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants on July 24, he has made 25 consecutive stolen base attempts. Ohtani, who advanced to third base when Freeman's fly to center field, then failed to reach home due to a failed follow-up hit.
Ohtani, who entered the batter's box for the third time in the third inning with two outs and runners on the second and third bases with a 5-3 lead, hit a sinker in the middle of Wicks' first pitch of 91.6 miles and hit a timely hit that flowed toward the center field, bringing in both runners and widening the gap to 7-3.
Ohtani can record 52 home runs and 53 steals arithmetically if he applies his pace so far.
jhno@sportschosun.com
