LOS ANGELES – Shohei Ohtani also triggered a milestone at the 87th stadium on Wednesday, a slider that caused harmless ground. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way superstar has completed five innings since his second repair of the ruler-rule ligament since his return, indicating that his long-term pitching recovery has finally come to the conclusion.
But Ohtani doesn't have time to appreciate the moment. It's his turn to hit.
Rather than tour along the third base run canoe and resting on the bench, Ohtani hurriedly put on a bat helmet, tied to some elbows and shins, grabbed the bat, grabbed his bat, and prepared to lead the bottom of the fifth inning. By then, he had done most of the heavy lifting – by getting a game to the visiting Cincinnati Reds and igniting four games by setting the tone in the first Dodgers win of the season.
Editing selection
2 Related
“I'm excited for shohei,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after sweeping the victory 5-1. “You know, because of the number of courts, he doesn't have a chance to win, so I think it's good for him to win.”
Currently, the Dodgers are essentially treating 5 innings, as well as somewhere near 90 courts – the limit of Ohtani this season. Ohtani said that reaching this threshold is “really critical in moving forward”, but the way he gets there is just as important.
After the back-to-back start, he allowed a combination of nine runs in eight innings against the last Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani relied heavily on his breakthrough court while confining the red to one shot – a solo home run by Noelvi Marte – and defeated a season of nine High Nine High High Batters. It wasn't until August 6 that Ohtani threw the curve ball and then flashed just 11 in three games. On Wednesday, Ohtani canceled 17 of them, four of which resulted in a strikeout.
Early in his return, Ohtani suddenly leaned on his four-slit fastball and sweeping game, suddenly leaning towards his fifth best course, which was the key to his consistent entry into the game.
Shohei Ohtani won nine points in five innings Wednesday night, earning her first win of the season. He also scored 1-5 on the plate with a run. Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire
“We already have a plan to stay away from the fastball as the couples in the past have started,” Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing said. “That doesn't mean we won't throw it away tonight, but we've been very expensive early on. It's just that opening the door after the last two innings of fastball.”
Ohtani explained that the early days of the return, the goal was to ensure his fastball speed was needed. The sweeper acts as an effective secondary weapon to help him navigate through shorter outings. The two accounted for 81% of the courts Ohtani threw when facing the Redsman in Cincinnati on July 30, which started out being interrupted by leg cramps. About a month later, Ohtani threw only 35% of the sweeping match and fastball. Other 65% are absorbed by splits, sinkers, knives, sliders, and most curve balls.
“I think the greatness of shohei is that he can direct, four to five pitches when he's right,” Roberts said. “When you try three squads, sometimes you have to be able to get into different courts and sequences. If we want to get more lengths from him, it certainly helps to keep building him and give us a choice, but it's a great marker to get 90 goals in five innings.”
Ohtani threw seven different balls in the first inning without a score, ranging from 76 to 99 miles. He took a second walk and threw two wild balls, but stood out from the situation, hitting Ke'Bryan Hayes with a 100mph fastball and Matt Mclain with an 89 mph scavenger. At Marte's home run was at the top of the third inning – in the first game in the middle – Ohtani completed his outing eight consecutive hitters.
In the middle, he led the bottom of fourth place with a single-line single, the first place allowed by Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo. Teoscar Hernandez, Andy Pages, Enrique Hernandez and Rushing deliberately brought Miguel Rojas to him in the Reds, contributing singles and bringing the Dodgers a lead that they won't give up.
The Dodgers won their fourth straight game, giving themselves two leads for the Western Conference National League San Diego Padres and appearing to be on the rise. Their bullpen was damaged by injuries for most of the year and finally began to form. Their offense will bring back two key players from Max Munchy and Tommy Edman in the near future. Their spins – made up of Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, Emmet Sheehan and Ohtani – look particularly powerful.
“Just look at our lineup, I really like our starting pitcher and bullpen,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “I just want to make sure I do my own role as a starting pitcher to play deeper and help bullpen.”