Shohei Ohtani Achieves a Significant Milestone in His Return to the Mound
In a standout performance, Shohei Ohtani completed five innings for the first time since his second surgery on the ulnar collateral ligament. This achievement, marked by his 87th pitch, represents a significant step in his recovery and his return to the top of baseball. After throwing five innings against the Cincinnati Reds, Ohtani didn’t have time to celebrate. He quickly prepared to bat, demonstrating his commitment both on the mound and at the plate. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed his enthusiasm for Ohtani, highlighting the importance of securing the win. For the Dodgers, pitching five innings, and around 90 pitches, is Ohtani’s current limit.Ohtani, upon reaching this milestone, called it “really key to moving forward.” His performance, which included nine strikeouts, was crucial to the Dodgers’ victory. In this encounter, Ohtani demonstrated remarkable versatility by relying heavily on his breaking pitches. This strategy allowed him to keep the Reds at bay, who only managed to score one run thanks to a solo home run by Noelvi Marte. The strategic use of different pitches was key to Ohtani’s success, who even incorporated the curveball, a pitch he hadn’t used in his first eight starts of the season. Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing explained that the plan was to move away from using the fastball, which opened up opportunities for other pitches. Initially, Ohtani focused on the velocity of his fastball and sweeper, but then diversified his repertoire. Roberts highlighted Ohtani’s ability to control various pitches, allowing him to adapt to different situations in the game. This flexibility is crucial for Ohtani to advance in his goal of pitching more innings and helping the team. In the first inning, Ohtani used seven different pitches, demonstrating his ability to vary his game. Despite some trouble in the second inning, he managed to escape unscathed, striking out Ke’Bryan Hayes and Matt McLain. After Marte’s home run, Ohtani retired eight consecutive batters, showcasing his dominance on the mound. In addition to his pitching performance, Ohtani contributed at the plate with a single. The Dodgers secured their fourth consecutive victory, solidifying their position at the top of the National League West Division. With the recovery of key players and the strength of their pitching rotation, the team appears to be on an upward trajectory.“I’m excited for Shohei. He was a distance hitter from not getting a win because of the pitch count, so I think it was good for him to get that win.”
Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager
