Shohei Ohtani showcased his prowess on the field by securing two hits and boosting his batting average to .310 in an effort to surpass Luis Arraez and potentially become the National League’s first Triple Crown winner since 1937. Ohtani’s stellar performance contributed to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ victory over the Colorado Rockies with a score of 13-2 on Saturday night.
Ohtani’s solid performance narrowed the gap between him and batting leader Luis Arraez to just four points, as Arraez currently boasts a .314 batting average heading into the final day of the regular season. Ohtani currently leads the NL with 54 home runs and 130 RBIs, putting him in contention for the Triple Crown title. The last NL Triple Crown winner was Joe Medwick in 1937, with the most recent MLB player achieving this feat being Miguel Cabrera in 2012.
In addition to his remarkable offensive capabilities, Ohtani also stole his 58th base of the season, marking him as the first player in MLB history to achieve a 50-50 season. Teoscar Hernández and Kike Hernández contributed to the Dodgers’ victory with three-run homers each, adding to the team’s strong offensive performance.
Pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamato played a pivotal role in the Dodgers’ triumph by allowing only two runs and four hits over five innings, securing his first win since June 1. The Dodgers clinched the best record in the majors with a 97-64 record, guaranteeing them home-field advantage throughout the postseason.”
Ohtani’s impactful plays included a single in the first inning, a walk and run scored in the fifth, and another single in the fifth. Kike Hernández impressed with a 430-foot homer in the second inning, while Teoscar Hernández added his 33rd homer of the season in the fifth inning.
Colorado’s Ezequiel Tovar hit his team-leading 26th home run of the season during the game, as the Rockies endured their second consecutive season with 100 losses. Charlie Blackmon, who will retire after 14 years in the majors, concluded his final game with 1 hit and a run scored.
In terms of injuries, Dodgers’ 1B Freddie Freeman showed signs of improvement after spraining his right ankle, while Rockies’ OF Brenton Doyle was absent from the game due to right knee tendinitis.
The upcoming regular-season finale will feature Dodgers’ RHP Landon Knack against Rockies’ RHP Ryan Feltner. The matchup promises to be an exciting conclusion to the NL season as teams gear up for postseason play.