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| On Friday, August 23, 2024, in Los Angeles, designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates with teammates following a grand slam he hit during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Dodgers victory was 7-3. (Photo by Ashley Landis/AP) |
After stealing his 40th base earlier in the game, Japanese
sensation Shohei Ohtani blasted a stunning two-out grand slam in the ninth
inning to record his 40th home run of the season, helping the Los Angeles
Dodgers defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 on Friday night.
Ohtani became the fastest player in major league history to join the 40-40 club
by reaching this milestone in just his 126th game and the team's 129th overall.
He's the first player in Dodgers history and only the sixth player in history
to do it.
Ohtani remarked, "It's really more about the winning," via a translator. "Winning the game is more important than keeping a record; it is just one step in the process."
When Ohtani scored 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in Game 148 for the Washington Nationals in 2006, he broke Alfonso Soriano's previous record."On the same night, it's a storybook situation," manager Dave Roberts remarked. "I wonder whether that has ever been accomplished, and he ends up winning with a grand slam. I'll remember this for a very long time because he is known for his dramatics.
A 3-3 stalemate was broken by Ohtani's 389-foot home run.
Jose Siri, a center fielder for the Rays, ran after the ball when it bounced
back onto the field. Will Ireton, Ohtani's interpreter, said that Siri then
hurled it into the stands, preventing Ohtani from receiving the memento.
Shohei Ohtani made history while Dodgers starter
Bobby Miller was watching from the clubhouse.
Miller remarked, "I kind of called that one." How awesome would it be
to hit a walk-off grand slam with a 40–40 ratio? He's a truly unique
player."
The 45,556 spectators gave Ohtani a standing ovation as he took a curtain call
and was showered with water on the field by teammates Miguel Rojas and Teoscar
Hernández.
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| Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) |
"Being able to perform in front of my home crowd means
a lot to me," Ohtani remarked.
Ohtani is the newest member of the elite 40-40 club, which
also includes Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, Ronald Acuña Jr., Alex Rodriguez, and
Alfonso Soriano. After hitting 41 home runs and swiping 73 bases in the
previous season, Acuña became the most recent member.
Ohtani is currently in a pennant race with the Dodgers, who are leading the NL
West, after missing the postseason in six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.
"Winning the World Series and making it to the postseason is the ultimate
goal," he declared. "That's part of the process, whatever the result
is for my record.”
Earlier in the game, Ohtani swiped second during Freddie Freeman's at-bat after
reaching on an infield single off Tyler Alexander in the fourth inning.
Since Rafael Furcal went 12 for 12 in September and October of 2007, August's 12 stolen bases are the most by a Dodger in a single month. He did not get caught throughout that month.
Manager Dave Roberts remarked, "I know he's taking great care of his legs
to be that dynamic player." "He's improving as a base stealer,
getting great jumps, and doing his homework on opposing pitchers." He
works really effectively.Roberts also mentioned that Ohtani was hesitant on the basepaths earlier in the season, when the Dodgers played the Angels, and had a lower stolen base rate.
Roberts continued, "Now, he's a highly successful elite
base stealer." "There will undoubtedly be more dramatic
moments."
Ohtani is the front-runner for the NL MVP title, while Aaron Judge, the star of
the New York Yankees, leads the majors with 49 home runs and is favored to win
the AL MVP award.
"There's just no one I view as better. Roberts remarked, "Obviously,
Judge is in the conversation, but man, I'd take Shohei."