Ohtani: Dodgers star with strikeout record, but Dodgers win

The Los Angeles Dodgers star, Shohei Ohtani, experienced an unusual situation in his MLB career.In Tuesday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, Ohtani struck out in his first four at-bats. This is the first time this has happened in his eight seasons and 981 games in the majors.This is the sixth time the National League MVP and Japanese superstar has recorded four strikeouts in a game, and the second time this season.Despite Ohtani’s difficult night, the Dodgers secured a 5-4 victory thanks to a run-scoring double by Will Smith in the ninth inning.

Tonight, I just don’t think he saw Cincinnati’s opener, Nick Lodolo, well at all. And I think he just went into swing mode. When he’s at his best, he’s elevating the ball and he’s using most of the field.

Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager

Ohtani came to the game with a nine-game hitting streak, where he connected 11 hits in 36 at-bats, with 6 home runs, 13 RBIs, and 9 runs scored.Lodolo became the thirteenth pitcher to strike out Ohtani three times in a game. The Reds’ lefty got Ohtani to chase a curveball out of the strike zone in the first and fifth innings, and struck him out with a 94.6 mph fastball in the third.

I went right after him. I definitely threw good fastballs in good spots, and I was also able to spin the ball well.Graham Ashcraft struck out Ohtani with an inside slider in the seventh inning.Ohtani was one strike away from his first five-strikeout game before flying to right on a 2-2 count in the ninth inning of a tied 4-4 game. Smith was the next batter and hit the winning hit.Ohtani continues to lead the majors with 100 runs scored. He also leads the National League in slugging (.612), total bases (254), OPS (.989), and home runs (38).Roberts expects Ohtani to be more disciplined at the plate in the final game of Wednesday night’s series, as Nick Martinez is a pitcher similar to Lodolo.

Martinez is going to be throwing with subtlety, and it’s going to be a cutter and a change of speed down. And he has to get back to most of the field and not chase down.

Dave Roberts

Ohtani will also make his seventh start as a pitcher this season on Wednesday, as the Dodgers look for him to pitch four innings, continuing his return from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2023. Ohtani is 0-0 with an ERA of 1.50.