Teoscar Hernández hit a go-ahead, three-run homer within the third inning, Shohei Ohtani went deep main off the sport on his second bobblehead night time and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 on Wednesday night time.
Ohtani singled and scored within the third and scored once more within the fifth, giving the Japanese celebrity a career-high 104 runs this season, bettering his mark of 103 set in 2021 with the Los Angeles Angels.
Ohtani blasted his forty second homer off Corbin Burnes (12-7) and stole his forty first and forty second bases in pursuit of turning into the primary main leaguer in historical past with 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a season.
Meanwhile, the second Ohtani bobblehead giveaway proved simply as fashionable as the primary.
Or, “It’s déjà vu all over again,” as Yogi Berra appreciated to take credit score for saying.
Long traces of automobiles have been backed up on roads across the stadium 5 hours earlier than the crew hosted the Orioles on Wednesday night time.
Some drivers took to the mistaken aspect of the highway to barter a blocked intersection close to one of many stadium gates the place no visitors management officers have been posted.
“I’m just happy that I made it,” supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned earlier than the sport. “It took me forever to get inside Dodger Stadium. I actually picked up one of the Dodger workers. She was laboring up the hill so I picked her up and gave her a lift.”
Only the primary 40,000 followers acquired the bobblehead, which depicts a smiling Ohtani holding his canine named Decoy (Its Japanese identify is Dekopin). Some gold variations have been randomly blended in. The souvenirs quickly have been being listed on Ebay, though the costs seemed to be a lot decrease than for his first bobblehead in May.
“Man, there’s a excessive demand for this dang bobblehead,” Roberts mentioned.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani waits as his canine Decoy delivers the ceremonial first pitch previous to a baseball recreation between the Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Image: AP/Mark J Terrill
Ohtani carried Decoy to the mound for ceremonial first pitch duties. He positioned the ball on the rubber and took up a catching place behind dwelling plate. After Ohtani gave a sign, the Dutch Kooikerhondje — sporting his personal uniform — picked up the ball in his mouth and carried it to Ohtani.
They shared a hand-to-paw excessive 5 as the group cheered wildly and Ohtani smiled broadly.
“He’s having fun with all the success, obviously, and promoting of him and his dog,” Roberts mentioned.
Fans, lots of them Japanese, waited patiently beneath a sizzling solar in a line that stretched properly away from the primary gate, earlier than it opened.
The first Ohtani bobblehead giveaway in May — that includes him in his batting stance — attracted a sellout crowd of 53,527 — the most important within the majors this season and essentially the most at Dodger Stadium since Sept. 20, 2019. The promotion snarled visitors for hours forward of recreation time.
Ohtani walked, popped out and struck out that night time in a 7-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
The Dodgers have scheduled another Ohtani giveaway to mark the two-way celebrity’s first season in Los Angeles after six years in Anaheim with the Angels. The September promotion can be a shirt. The crew gave away hats in July.
Ohtani joined the Dodgers final December, signing a $700 million, 10-year contract. Last week, he grew to become the quickest participant in main league historical past — and sixth ever — with 40 dwelling runs and 40 stolen bases in the identical season — and he achieved the feat in the identical recreation.
He’s now taking intention at one thing that is by no means been completed earlier than: 50 homers and 50 stolen bases.
Roberts mentioned he’s nonetheless stunned by the mania that surrounds Ohtani.
“When you’re in it day to day, he’s a baseball player that just wants to play,” the supervisor mentioned, “but when you see him impact and move the needle like he does and has, I’ve just never seen anything like this. It is incredible.”
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