close
close

Dodgers show fighting spirit and emotion as Ohtani and bullpen bring LA closer to a title | by Cary Osborne | Sep, 2024

Dodger Insider
Shohei Ohtani hit two of three on Wednesday and had two game-winning hits. (Carrie Giordano/Los Angeles Dodgers)

by Cary Osborne

There's the 6-for-6, 50/50 game. The walk-off Grand Slam game. The bobblehead game. Wednesday could be called the most valuable player game.

With the Dodgers and Padres in a tug-of-war for the division title, Ohtani brought the Dodgers closer to the crown with two gigantic hits in a close game.

The left-handed batter's two-strike, two-out RBI single against left-handed reliever Adrian Morejón in the sixth inning gave the Dodgers the decisive run in their 4-3 win Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers' magic number is two – meaning a win Thursday against the Padres would give them their 11th National League West title in 12 seasons. And it would be Ohtani's first in his seven-year major league career.

“To do that, hopefully in front of the home fans, would be something I’m looking forward to,” Ohtani said.

Ohtani gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning with a double that hit the bullpen fence in right field. Gavin Lux also scored a run in that inning with an RBI single against Padres starter Dylan Cease.

Ohtani has a .270 batting average with runners in scoring position this season. He came into the game with a .259 batting average and RISP – 80th in the majors. However, according to Baseball Reference, Ohtani leads the majors in added win probability.

His fourth-inning double increased the Dodgers' odds of winning at that point by 14.6%, and his game-winning hit in the sixth inning increased the odds by 18.1%.

“He's handling it exactly how I would have hoped he would,” manager Dave Roberts said of Ohtani's performance in those pressure games. “This is a playoff environment. You see they're trying to pressure him and then turn him away. And he's just being patient, waiting for his shot and making something of it when he gets his chance. So as far as his emotions go, he's really channeling them. And the energy is the right energy. It's not pressure. It's urgency. It's everything you want in a playoff environment.”

The Dodgers' designated hitter also stole his 56th base in the game, tying Ichiro Suzuki (2001), who holds the record for most steals by a Japanese-born major league player.

Speaking of valuable, the Dodgers’ bullpen comes into play here.

Starter Jack Flaherty struggled with control issues to last five innings, allowing three runs, three walks and throwing 100 pitches.

From there, four Dodger relief pitchers took over – from Alex Vesia to Evan Phillips to Blake Treinen to Michael Kopech. The Padres were 0-for-11 against the quartet, who threw four scoreless innings.

Treinen faced the heart of the Padre team – Fernando Tatis Jr., Jurickson Profar and Manny Machado – in the eighth inning.

Treinen got the first two outs of the inning and then walked Padre superstar Manny Machado. Trailing 2-0, Machado entered the batter's box and then stepped out again as if to slow Treinen's advance.

Treinen then threw a sweeper that flew to the bottom of the strike zone and knocked Machado out with a glance.

The veteran right-handed reliever has not allowed a single run in his last 14 appearances and has struck out 18 batters in 14 1/3 innings.

“Tonight was a masterpiece,” Roberts said. “He uses all of his skills in terms of pitching and different positions, and he's very unpredictable. And when you combine that with unpredictability, it's hard to counter. And he did it and pitched another great inning for us.”

Kopech made his sixth save in as many chances as a Dodger. With two outs and one on in the ninth inning, he threw a 101 mph pitch to first baseman Donovan Solano, then pumped his fist in celebration after the game ended.

“I expect our guys to be emotionally exhausted and to use up every game from now on,” Roberts said. “And if they're not, they're not giving up enough. Three hours of baseball takes a lot of focus, determination and intensity, and then you have to do it all again the next night. And if they're not exhausted, we haven't put enough into each game.”

Rojas struggles with injuries

Miguel Rojas left the game after the fourth inning because of tightness in his left groin. He said he has been suffering from the injury for weeks and it hurts the most when he rounds the bases.

Rojas said he will get an MRI and an injection on Thursday and hopes to play at least one game before the end of the regular season.

Roberts said the injury was cause for concern.

Where they stand

The Dodgers (94-64) lead the NL West by three games over the Padres (91-67) and have a chance to win the crown on Thursday. Walker Buehler will start for the Dodgers in the 7:10 p.m. game. The Dodgers also have a half-game lead over the Phillies (94-65), the best record in the major leagues.

You may also like...