Shohei Ohtani had the opportunity to break a negative streak that has been going on for more than 40 days with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Japanese star had the opportunity to string together three victories, something that has not happened since July 2. Even on those same dates, it was also the last time the Los Angeles team swept a series and did so against the Chicago White Sox. Subsequently, they have played 10 series, winning five and losing five, but with the exception that on three occasions the Dodgers were swept.
On Sunday, August 10, Shohei Ohtani hit his 41st home run of the season, but at the same time he was the villain of the game where he was put out trying to steal third base and was struck out with a low ball in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed his frustration after the 5-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, who allowed 10 hits, including two home runs and 13 walks. They suffered 14 men struck out and yet Los Angeles gave up the lead in the eighth inning.
Dave Roberts expressed his annoyance with the team and with Shohei Ohtani
After the Dodgers allowed the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning, Ohtani struck out on a pitch out of the zone, which Dave Roberts mentioned during his press conference: “It’s frustrating because I felt like we shouldn’t have lost this game today. We had them on the ropes many times. And not winning is very frustrating for us,” were the words of Dave Roberts, whose team has not won three games in a row since the beginning of July and cannot sweep a series.
When Shohei Ohtani came to the plate with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, Dave Roberts said: “The last thing I thought was that he was going to strike out. We’ve got to get a run right now,” Roberts said. “But chasing a low ball is something we can’t allow.” As mentioned, Ohtani was put out in the sixth inning with two outs and Freddie Freeman at bat for looking for third base. “That was his decision. It wasn’t a good baseball play,” the Angels manager said.
Even Shohei Ohtani has bad decisions
The two-way player connected on two hits, including his 41st home run of the season, to extend his hitting streak to nine games, but made some crucial mistakes late in the game, where generating a run could have altered its outcome. The Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, revealed Shohei Ohtani’s plans as a starting pitcher. It’s a work in progress, although Ohtani will remain the Dodgers’ designated hitter.
“I think it’s more about evaluating after each outing. We’re doing it very methodically and we’ll keep getting better. We don’t know where it will end yet. We’ll keep monitoring how he holds up, how his body responds and all that data we can get after each outing.” With Sunday’s loss, the Padres are just two games back in the National League West. Less than three weeks ago, the Dodgers had a six-game lead at the top of the division standings.
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