Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani gestures towards the Dodger bullpen after hitting a single through the seventh inning of an MLB sport in opposition to the Colorado Rockies, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photograph/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani is at it once more.
The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrity hit his 52nd house run and stole his 52nd base on Friday night time, breaking the most important league report for going deep and stealing in the identical sport.
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It’s the 14th time Ohtani has achieved the feat, bettering Rickey Henderson’s mark of 13 video games set in 1986 with the New York Yankees.
Ohtani’s heroics occurred an evening after turning into the primary participant in main league historical past with 50 house runs and 50 stolen bases in a season.
READ: Shohei Ohtani surpasses 50-50 milestone in spectacular style
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“The final couple video games he’s locked in,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated.
He reached on an infield single to first base within the seventh after which stole second.
Ohtani’s 52nd homer off a 3-2 pitch from Kyle Freeland traveled 423 toes to middle area, scoring Max Muncy and put the Dodgers forward 3-2 with two outs within the fifth inning.
Ohtani retains exhibiting a aptitude for the dramatic throughout his historic first season with the Dodgers.
In Miami on Thursday, Ohtani had the primary three-homer sport of his profession — all coming after the sixth inning — his first six-hit sport and a franchise and career-record 10 RBIs. Nobody in MLB historical past has accomplished that earlier than.
READ: Japan in awe after Shohei Ohtani makes MLB historical past
He completed the night time with 51 homers and 51 steals.
He additionally stole two bases and almost hit for the cycle, however was thrown out at third attempting to stretch his second double right into a triple whereas exhibiting off his uncommon mixture of pace and energy.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani runs on a single through the third inning of an MLB sport in opposition to the Colorado Rockies in Los Angeles, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photograph/Ashley Landis)
Ohtani was greeted with a standing ovation as he led off the primary inning Friday. Chants of “MVP! MVP!” rang out and followers stayed on their toes with their telephones out to report his at-bat. Ohtani went down swinging however the crowd applauded once more as he walked again to the dugout.
Replays of Ohtani’s historic night time performed on the video board throughout batting observe.
“Individuals identical to to observe greatness,” Roberts stated, “and he’s going to go down as one of many greats of all time.”
READ: Shohei Ohtani is quickest participant in MLB historical past to hitch 40-40 membership
Rockies supervisor Bud Black marveled at Ohtani’s achievements, though he’d desire the celebrity holds off on burnishing his credentials till the three-game sequence ends.
“He can begin Monday,” Black stated.
Ohtani clearly didn’t get the message.
He additionally singled twice in his eleventh three-hit efficiency of the season.
Ohtani’s earlier bests have been 46 homers and 26 stolen bases in 2021, when he gained the primary of his two American League Most Helpful Participant awards whereas taking part in for the Los Angeles Angels.
Now he’s the favourite for NL MVP honors.
It appears there aren’t any limits for Ohtani.
He was the quickest participant to succeed in the 40-40 mark with a ninth-inning grand slam in opposition to Tampa Bay in his 126th sport on Aug. 23 .
Now he has 9 video games left to see what else he can do within the common season.
“Understanding him, he’s in all probability taking a look at 60-60,” Roberts stated. “I might say it’s very unrealistic, however with him something’s attainable.”
The Dodgers clinched a postseason berth for the twelfth consecutive season with their 20-4 rout of the Marlins on Thursday. It’s nothing new for them, however it’s for Ohtani. He has performed 865 video games with out making a postseason look, greater than every other energetic participant.
“He will probably be very ready and centered,” Roberts. “I feel the entire world is trying ahead to him in October.”
Ohtani made it clear in signing a $700 million, 10-year take care of the Dodgers final December that competing for a championship is what drives him.
“The No. 1 objective is to get to the postseason and win the World Sequence,” he stated final month.
Throughout his six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, they by no means made the playoffs or had a profitable report.
The NL West-leading Dodgers need to lock up their eleventh division title in 12 seasons.
Ohtani’s wonderful feats are occurring throughout a season by which his closest pal betrayed him and he isn’t pitching whereas he rehabilitates from elbow surgical procedure final offseason.
He skipped the House Run Derby throughout All-Star weekend in July to keep away from potential additional harm, though as designated hitter he slugged a three-run homer within the Nationwide League’s loss.
Not pitching has stored Ohtani’s legs and arms brisker and faster, whereas permitting him to focus and enhance on different components of his sport. He’s honed his craft of working and stealing bases, studying find out how to get good jumps off opposing pitchers by learning video of their tendencies.
Dodgers followers could possibly be witnessing a as soon as in a era facet of Ohtani’s sport. As soon as he resumes pitching each 5 days subsequent yr, his legs could not enable him to steal as many bases.
The Ohtani impact is seen off the sector, too.
Followers created mob scenes in and round Dodger Stadium throughout his two bobblehead giveaways. The ultimate Ohtani promotion is Saturday when T-shirts that includes his likeness will probably be given to the primary 40,000 followers.
Japanese vacationers flock to the stadium for excursions, ensuing within the crew including extra Japanese-speaking guides. The crew has signed a slew of Japanese sponsors, too.
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“He’s one in every of one,” Roberts stated.
