Shohei Ohtani achieved a major career milestone on Wednesday, recording his 1000th hit as the Los Angeles Dodgers faced the St. Louis Cardinals in a closely contested game. The two-way player excelled both as a pitcher and a batter, demonstrating why he remains one of baseball’s most unique talents despite the Dodgers’ 5-3 loss.
Ohtani delivered four strong innings on the mound, allowing just one run while striking out eight batters, his best pitching effort for the Dodgers to date. At the plate, he energized the team with a crucial two-run homer in the third inning that put Los Angeles ahead 2-1 early in the contest.
Late-Game Struggles Cost Dodgers the Win
Although Ohtani contributed significantly, defensive mistakes and bullpen challenges in the later innings allowed St. Louis to rally and secure the victory. Ohtani expressed mixed feelings about his overall performance, acknowledging both his strong moments and areas where improvement was needed.
“A really close game throughout, I think it would have been a huge win for us if we were to be able to flip the script,” Ohtani said through his interpreter Will Ireton. “It’s just maybe I could have done better with the quality of that bats in the middle part of the game.”
“Just really good at that. That was the at-bat that I hit a homer in. But the bunt situation, you know, I could have maybe executed a little bit better.”
Ohtani Balances Pitching and Hitting Approach
Before the game, Ohtani’s batting average during his pitching starts had dropped to .219, with just three hits in his last 24 at-bats over six outings. When asked about his mindset on days he both pitches and hits, he stated that he tries to maintain consistency and adjust his training to handle the increased workload.
“I don’t really try to think too differently on days that I pitch and hit and on days that I only hit. I’m thinking of adjusting how I work out and do my work in between my outings. Especially now that I’m going to be throwing more innings.”
Dodgers Manager Comments on Team and Ohtani’s Role
Despite Ohtani’s impressive two-way effort, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to struggle as a team, posting a 13-17 record since July and splitting their last six games evenly. Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the frustration felt throughout the club due to inconsistent offensive production.
“It never feels good,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Is there a level of frustration the way the second half has started off? Yeah. We just haven’t synced up. We just can’t get on track offensively. We’re not playing great.”
Roberts underlined Ohtani’s potential for further growth in his dual role, suggesting that the player remains on an upward trajectory with more experience.
“I don’t think he’s there yet. It’s only going to get better as he gets more time doing it,” Roberts said.
Upcoming Challenges for the Dodgers
The Dodgers now prepare to host the Toronto Blue Jays, the leaders of the American League East, who enter their upcoming series off a dominant sweep against the Colorado Rockies during which they scored an overwhelming 45 runs. This matchup will test Los Angeles’ resilience amid recent difficulties and highlight whether Ohtani’s strong individual performances can help turn the team’s fortunes around.