'Triple crown failed, but' Ohtani finishes great journey with one hit and one stolen base '54 home runs-59 steals - OPS 1.036'LAD 5 consecutive wins
Sep 30, 2024
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The National League (NL) batting triple crown, the first milestone in 87 years that LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani was aiming for, eventually failed.
Ohtani played as a leadoff designated hitter in the final game of the season against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on the 30th (Korea time) and recorded one hit and one stolen base in four at-bats. The Dodgers won the game 2-1.
San Diego Padres Luis Arraez hit 1 for 3 against the Arizona Diamondbacks on the same day, marking a batting average of 0.314 and beating Ohtani, who recorded 0.310, to confirm the NL batting king. Arraez has been the batting champion for three consecutive years, and all of them are from different teams.
Ohtani did not hit a home run, but added one stolen base, ending his great journey in major league history with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases.
As a result, Ohtani ended this season with a batting average of 0.310 (197 hits in 636 at-bats) in 159 games, 54 homers, 130 RBIs, 134 runs, 81 walks, 59 steals, 0.390 on-base percentage, 0.646 slugging percentage, 1.036 OPS, 99 hits, and 411 hits. Together, the two leagues ranked first in scoring, slugging, and slugging, and No. 1 in NL home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS, respectively. His batting average and stolen bases are second in the NL, and his at-bat, which is his pride as a leadoff, is ranked first in the NL.
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In the fourth inning, trailing 0-1, he also hit an infield grounder as a leadoff hitter. Feltner's fifth-pitch 95.4-mile fastball from the advantageous count of 3B1S was well matched, but the well-flowing 106.5-mile hit headed in front of shortstop Ezekiel Tova near second base.
It was a ground ball after two outs in the sixth inning when the team was 0-1 inferior. Feltner's second pitch on One Strike drew a 94.3 mph low fastball, but the ball, which rolled at 98.5 mph, was caught facing second baseman Aaron Shunk's right and out.
Ohtani entered the batter's box for the fourth time in the eighth inning with one out and a runner on first base, which was balanced 1-1. The Dodgers, who made it 1-1 with a solo home run by lead Chris Taylor, went out as a runner in front of Ohtani after Austin Barnes hit a heavy hit after one.
At that time, Colorado pitching coach went to the mound and comforted pitcher Victor Vodnick. It seemed to order a head-to-head match. Ohtani pulled lightly and made a line drive hit to the right when a low fastball flew in the middle of the third 99.3 miles following a strike outside the first pitch of 100.4 miles and a 100.1-mile fastball that fell into the body of the second pitch. The launch angle was 14 degrees, the batting speed was 110.8 miles, and the distance was 248 feet.
Then, with the opposing pitcher changing to right-hander Seth Halborson, Ohtani attempted a double steal with second baseman Barnes at the first pitch. Colorado catcher Drew Romo threw quickly to third base, but third baseman Ryan McMahon missed, allowing both runners to steal bases. Ohtani, who settled on second base, stole his 59th base of the season.
The Dodgers then turned the tide 2-1 when Halborson committed a balk that failed to release the ball in the pitching motion at James Outman's at-bat, and Barnes homered.
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The Dodgers' batters, who rarely found vitality, turned the tables in the top of the eighth inning by combining Taylor's equalizer, consecutive hits by Barnes and Ohtani, double steals, and the opponent's balk. The Dodgers, which finished the season with five consecutive wins, marked 98 wins and 64 losses, confirmed the No. 1 winning percentage by combining the two leagues, and were given the No. 1 seed to challenge for the championship with home advantage in all series.
jhno@sportschosun.com
