The Dodgers won today’s game against the Marlins via blowout, 20-4, and it was an important one to get since it put them outside of sweep range of the Padres and helps them take this series two games to one. They also clinched a playoff spot with a win.
Realistically though, all anybody cares about is Shohei Ohtani‘s absolutely comical day to create the 50-50 club … and then the 51-51 club.
What a night.
— MLB (@MLB) September 20, 2024
What a ballplayer.
Relive Shohei Ohtani's historic performance 👏 pic.twitter.com/0dntraRhXB
Since RBI became official in 1920, only one MLB player has had, over the course of his entire career (same game or not),
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) September 20, 2024
a game with 10+ RBI
a game with 6+ hits
a game with 5+ XBH
a game with 3+ HR
a game with 2+ SB
That one player is Shohei Ohtani. He did all of it today. pic.twitter.com/njXOmwHKnm
Historic doesn’t really even cover it.
The road to 50/50.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2024
Congratulations Shohei on being the only player in MLB history to join the 50/50 club! pic.twitter.com/KLD7Xj4tqf
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But let’s start at the beginning.
Bouncing back from his worst start as a Dodger, Jack Flaherty looked fine today, though with some room for concern. Much like his other outings, the runs he does give up usually come on homers, and Jake Burger‘s solo shot in the 2nd and Griffin Conine‘s two-run shot in the 5th accounted for all three runs Flaherty surrendered.
The Dodgers ended up scoring enough that it didn’t matter much, and most of the concern was around his fastball velocity: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 96 Pitches.
Update: He had a few above this in the 6th. Dunno. https://t.co/PezWMbglJb
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 19, 2024
On the other end was history.
Ohtani started the game with a double that almost cleared the wall, and with one out Freddie Freeman walked. Ohtani and Freeman then executed a double steal to get Ohtani to 48 homers and 50 steals on the year.
48/50! pic.twitter.com/e9QdIs41yM
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2024
Ohtani then scored on a Will Smith sacrifice fly to get the Dodgers on the board.
They started a rally again in the 2nd behind a Max Muncy walk and Gavin Lux infield single, but a couple of quick outs didn’t see them move. Thankfully, Ohtani stepped up and singled to score Muncy to drive in the team’s second run.
Ohtani followed that by stealing second, giving him 48 homers and 51 steals on the year, though this one didn’t result in runs.
We didn't have to wait long for the next one.
— MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2024
51 stolen bases for Shohei! pic.twitter.com/PmuaDK2XRX
The crooked number came in the 3rd, as Will got hit with one out, Tommy Edman singled, and then back-to-back-to-back walks to Muncy, Lux, and Andy Pages plated two runs to give the Dodgers four.
A Chris Taylor sac fly followed, but it was Ohtani again who came up with a big blow via a double that scored two more, though he unfortunately got thrown out trying to stretch at third. Seven runs.
A five-spot in the third! pic.twitter.com/sfjiue8ure
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2024
After some quiet time in the 4th and 5th frames, it was Ohtani again that got the Dodgers back on the board in the 6th. A Pages single was later followed by Ohtani’s 49th homer of the year to give him 49 homers and 51 steals while making the game 9-3. More history with every action.
Putting on a Sho with homer No. 49! pic.twitter.com/TpiOhimPQM
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2024
With his 49th home run, Shohei Ohtani ties Shawn Green with the most home runs by a Dodger in a single season! pic.twitter.com/KjQdAeGaX4
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2024
The 7th saw even more scoring by the Dodgers, as a one-out walk from Edman was followed by a Muncy single, and a Lux walk loaded the bases. Pages then doubled a pair of runs home to make it 11-3, and after a groundout, well, the show arrived.
Because what really mattered is Ohtani. Skip Schumaker and pitcher Mike Baumann decided to go after him with runners on second and third, and credit to them for that.
I misquoted him. The full quote:
— Tipping Pitches (@tipping_pitches) September 19, 2024
“Fuck that. I’ve got too much respect for this guy for that shit to happen.” pic.twitter.com/ejWFRd1p9T
"That's a bad move, baseball-wise, karma-wise, baseball-gods-wise. You go after him and see if you can get him out."
— Bally Sports Florida: Marlins (@BallyMarlins) September 20, 2024
Marlins manager Skip Schumaker explains why they didn't walk Ohtani and what it was like to watch the historic performance tonight. pic.twitter.com/VhmZvLvmnD
They got ahead of him 0-2, but a wild pitch scored a run and made the count 1-2. One more breaking ball left too far up in the zone, and one more swing to deposit it into the left-center field seats for his 50th homer of the year. Ohtani creates the 50-50 club, totaling 50 homers and 51 steals on the year.
THERE IS ONLY ONE SHOHEI OHTANI. pic.twitter.com/rKgJtW8h2l
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2024
What a moment for Shohei’s 50th homer. pic.twitter.com/rO0vLSazgG
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 20, 2024
He also breaks the Dodger club record for homers in a single season, surpassing Shawn Green.
Shohei Ohtani sets a new Dodger franchise record for home runs in a single season with 50! pic.twitter.com/TilWcc5vHy
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2024
Curtain call on the road … and history-making equipment.
Take a bow, Shohei. pic.twitter.com/S88h6BXg3Z
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2024
They stripped Shohei Ohtani. pic.twitter.com/5d2lDhNQxo
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 19, 2024
Oh right, by the way, that made it 14-3.
Not for that long though, as after a quiet time in the 8th, it was Ohtani again in the 9th. Facing a position player, Muncy got hit to start, but after two outs there was danger that Ohtani wouldn’t get a chance at more history. No worries, as CT3 came up clutch with a single, and Ohtani followed by absolutely annihilating a ball way up in the second deck in right to give him 51 homers and 51 steals on the year.
51/51 FOR SHOHEI OHTANI. pic.twitter.com/VoJA2PMFnB
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2024
17-3.
The Dodgers then actually made a run at getting him to the plate again. Kevin Kiermaier walked, Enrique Hernandez singled, and Hunter Feduccia walked to load the bases. Edman than singled to drive in a pair, and Muncy singled as well to make it 20-3, but after Lux walked, the inning ended when Pages lined out sharply to third.
To finish off the game for the Dodgers, Evan Phillips pitched around some trouble for a scoreless 7th, and Zach Logue bounced back from his disaster yesterday to get a scoreless 8th, but did give up a homer in the 9th to make it 20-4 in the end.
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Playoffs? Classy celebration.
Postseason ready. pic.twitter.com/18TBmxCqdU
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 20, 2024
Shohei Ohtani addressing the clubhouse!
— James¹⁷¹⁸🎌 (@ShotimeLAD) September 19, 2024
©️SportsNetLA pic.twitter.com/KTry1PAy6b
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Shohei and history.
Shohei Ohtani spoke post-game with @kirsten_watson about his offensive performance, becoming the only player in the 50/50 club and clinching his first postseason berth. pic.twitter.com/OCh1CTs3JO
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) September 20, 2024
"No game defines its players more by the footsteps they follow. Then maybe once in a lifetime or so, somebody comes around without precedence."
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) September 20, 2024
Tom Verducci on Shohei Ohtani's path to greatness. pic.twitter.com/GJWECjjT2T
Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit on Shohei Ohtani. 🏈⚾️📺🎙️#TNF pic.twitter.com/jTj9WkVsh1
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 20, 2024
Shohei Ohtani, one of one. pic.twitter.com/lnoXxVseri
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 20, 2024
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Buy these very good shirts, buds. Supports the site and are MLBPA licensed.
Club: https://t.co/LcD4pbp8ZS pic.twitter.com/JhRqI9JyNE
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 20, 2024
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NL WEST | RECORD |
---|---|
Dodgers | 91-62 |
Padres | 87-66 (4 GB) |
Diamondbacks | 84-68 (6.5 GB)* |
*Still to play.
The Dodgers will now return home for a three-game series against the Rockies, starting at the usual time of 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET. It’ll be a bullpen game and/or a call-up from the minors facing off against Kyle Freeland.