I caught up with him. 56 steals! Two hits, two RBIs, including Ohtani's final hit...'Magic Number 2'LAD 4-3 SD
Sep 26, 2024
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Ohtani finally caught up with Ichiro Suzuki, who has the record for most stolen bases in a season from Asia.
Ohtani became the main player of the 4-3 victory in the home game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on the 26th (Korea time), with two hits, one walk, two RBIs, one run and one stolen base in three at-bats, including his 56th stolen base of the season and the final hit.
The Dodgers, who lost 2-4 due to a walk-off triple in the bottom of the ninth inning the previous day, avenged it in a day and reduced the National League West winning magic number to two.
Ohtani, who played as a designated hitter for leadoff, got on base with a straight walk in his first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning. San Diego starter Dylan Sheese did not give a good ball to the corner of the strike zone. Ohtani then advanced to second base while Mookie Betts stepped down with a fly ball to second base and Siz committed a wild pitch for the third pitch at Freddie Freeman's at-bat.
Freeman struck out swinging, but No. 4 hitter Teoscar Hernandez hit a 96.9-mile fastball on Sizu's fourth pitch to lead to a right-center hit, bringing Ohtani home.
Ohtani entered as the leadoff hitter in the third inning, trailing 1-2, and struck out. On the full count, Sizu's sixth pitch missed a fastball in the middle of 98.9 miles. Ohtani walked out of the batter's box with a completely unexpected look that the `honest' ball would come in.
However, Ohtani hit a timely come-from-behind hit in the fourth inning, trailing 1-2. The Dodgers tied the game 2-2 with Tommy Edman's double to right-center and Gavin Lux's critical hit after two outs in the fourth inning. Miguel Rojas then walks from the full count and has a chance to get first and second bases with two outs. Ohtani then hit a line drive double that directly hit the right fence, turning the tide to 3-2.
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However, San Diego's pursuit was also daunting. After two outs in the top of the fifth inning, Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a solo home run in left-center to balance it again 3-3.
It was Ohtani who gave the Dodgers the lead again. The Dodgers took the lead again in the sixth inning with Ohtani's timely hit. Leaders Will Smith and Edman drew consecutive walks to create chances for first and second bases with no outs. Lux and Andy Pazs are out, with two outs and runners on first and second bases.
Ohtani, who entered the batter's box with the opposing pitcher changing to left-hander Adrian Morehorn, hit a high sinker in the middle of the fifth pitch in 2B2S to hit a heavy hit and bring Smith home. 4-3.
Ohtani lived comfortably by running to second base while Morehorn's slider became a ball in the fourth pitch of the next batter's at-bat. Ohtani, who has successfully stolen bases for 34 consecutive times, tied Ichiro's most stolen bases in a season from Asia set in 2001.
With his strong performance on the day, Ohtani marked a batting average of 0.303 (187 hits in 617 at-bats), 53 home runs, 125 RBIs, 130 runs, 80 walks, 56 steals, an on-base percentage of 0.386, a slugging percentage of 0.642, OPS 1.028, 96 hits, and 396 hits. Combining the two leagues, they continued to score points, hit long balls, and hitters, and home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS in the NL.
The Dodgers, who have marked 94 wins and 64 losses, will win the district championship on their own if they add two wins in the remaining four games.
jhno@sportschosun.com
