Ohtani hits grand slam in 9th inning, becomes fastest player in MLB history to join 40-40 club
LOS ANGELES (AP) |A|
— Shohei Ohtani is |B|
baseballs fastest 40-40 man. |C|
Ohtani |O| achieved the feat in |P| his 126th game and |Q| the teams 129th, the |R| quickest in major league |S| history and sixth ever |U| to reach 40 homers |V| and 40 stolen bases |Y| in a season. Hes |Z| also the first Dodgers |A| player to do so.
|B| dir="ltr">“Its really more about |C| the winning,” Ohtani said |D| through an interpreter. “Obviously |E| the record is part |F| of the process but |G| I think the most |H| important thing is about |J| winning the game.”
He |K| broke the previous mark |L| by Alfonso Soriano in |M| Game 148 for the |O| Washington Nationals in 2006.
|P| dir="ltr">“Its just storybook — |Q| 40-40 on the same |R| night,” manager Dave Roberts |S| said. “I dont know |U| if thats ever been |V| done and then he |Y| wins it with a |Z| grand slam. Hes definitely |A| known for the dramatics |B| and this was something |C| Ill remember for a |D| long time.”
Ohtanis 389-foot |E| shot snapped a 3-3 |F| tie. Rays center fielder |G| Jose Siri gave chase |H| and the ball bounced |J| back onto the field. |K| He then threw it |L| into the stands, so |M| Ohtani didnt end up |O| with the keepsake, according |P| to Ohtanis interpreter Will |Q| Ireton.
Dodgers starter Bobby |R| Miller was in the |S| clubhouse watching on television |U| when Ohtani made history.
|V| dir="ltr">“I kind of called |Y| that one,” he said. |Z| “I was like how |A| cool would this be |B| just to get that |C| 40-40 on a walk-off |D| grand slam? Hes a |E| really special player.”
Ohtani |F| took a curtain call |G| as the crowd of |H| 45,556 stood and cheered. |J| Teammates Miguel Rojas and |K| Teoscar Hernández soaked him |L| with water on the |M| field.
“It means a |O| tremendous amount for me |P| to be able to |Q| do this in front |R| of the home crowd,” |S| Ohtani said.
Ohtani joins |U| Soriano, Ronald Acuna Jr., |V| Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds |Y| and Jose Canseco in |Z| the 40-40 club. Acuna |A| became a member last |B| season, when he belted |C| 41 homers and stole |D| 73 bases.
After never |E| making the postseason in |F| his six seasons with |G| the Los Angeles Angels, |H| Ohtani finds himself in |J| a pennant race with |K| the NL West-leading Dodgers.
|L| dir="ltr">“The number one goal |M| is to get to |O| the postseason and win |P| the World Series,” he |Q| said. “Whatever the outcome |R| is for my record, |S| thats part of the |U| process.”
In the fourth, |V| Ohtani reached on an |Y| infield single leading off |Z| against Tyler Alexander and |A| stole second during Freddie |B| Freemans at-bat.
His 12 |C| stolen bases in August |D| without being caught are |E| the most in a |F| month by a Dodger |G| since Rafael Furcals 12 |H| for 12 in September |J| and October 2007.
“I |K| know that hes taking |L| very good care of |M| his legs to be |O| able to do it |P| and be that dynamic |Q| player,” Roberts said. “Hes |R| doing his homework on |S| opposing pitchers and hes |U| getting great jumps. Hes |V| a much better base |Y| stealer. Hes very efficient.”
|Z| dir="ltr">Roberts noted that earlier |A| in the season and |B| going back to when |C| the Dodgers faced the |D| Angels, Ohtani was tentative |E| on the basepaths and |F| his stolen base percentage |G| wasnt high.
“Hes an |H| elite base stealer with |J| a high success rate,” |K| the manager said. “Im |L| sure therell be more |M| dramatics to come.”
New |O| York Yankees star Aaron |P| Judge leads the majors |Q| with 49 homers. Hes |R| favored to win AL |S| MVP honors with Ohtani |U| predicted to do the |V| same in the NL.
|Y| dir="ltr">“I just dont see |Z| anyone any better, obviously |A| Judge is in the |B| conversation, but man, Id |C| take Shohei,” Roberts said.
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