The off day appeared to have cooled off the Dodgers a bit, as the offense started slow and a pair of early homers for the Rays staked them to a lead. However, the Dodgers came back behind one Enrique Hernandez blow, the bullpen shut things down, and that set up a big 9th inning rally with the most dramatic way for Shohei Ohtani to reach the 40/40 club: a walk-off grand slam.
What a game.
Don't talk about history. Sho 'em. pic.twitter.com/ym6u296vTo
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 24, 2024
Oh, the 7-3 victory makes it five straight.
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Bobby Miller started the game with a couple of easy outs, but then rookie Junior Caminero stepped up and smashed his first MLB homer for an early 1-0 lead.
Late game, early start for Cami ? pic.twitter.com/jhA2y3RXen
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 24, 2024
Miller worked around trouble in the 2nd with three strikeouts, but a two-out double by Caminero was followed with a two-run homer for Christopher Morel to make it 3-0 in a flash.
MORELVELOUS pic.twitter.com/VNCLVXwEku
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 24, 2024
Despite a flurry of deep flyballs that were cause for concern, Miller did show signs of progress. He settled down and faced the minimum over the final three innings of his outing, seeing a single erased by a Will Smith throw, and emphatically struck out the last four batters he faced.
He did enough, really: 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 9 K, 96 Pitches.
Bobby Miller's 18 swinging strikes tonight are a season high
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) August 24, 2024
Even in his 11-K game on March 29, he had only 9 swinging strikes
Miller's career high is 20 whiffs, one year ago yesterdayhttps://t.co/VPQ2Q8CMnvhttps://t.co/CQx2gmHblx
Meanwhile, Tyler Alexander cooled off the lineup, facing the minimum through three thanks to a pickoff and double play. The first RISP came on an Ohtani infield single and then his 40th stolen base in the 4th, but the Dodgers couldn’t take advantage.
That's 40 stolen bases for Shohei Ohtani! pic.twitter.com/mVOURPmD2a
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 24, 2024
Fortunately, it was the bottom of the order who came through again in what’s becoming something of a trend. Tommy Edman started the 5th with a bloop single and Gavin Lux drew a walk with one down to put a pair on, which brought up Enrique and his new eyesight to smash a three-run game-tying homer that knocked Alexander out of the game. 3-3.
No. 8 FOR THREE! pic.twitter.com/QlscTpBLkz
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 24, 2024
Kiké's power level is over 9,000! pic.twitter.com/de16h45xZY
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 24, 2024
First out of the pen for the Dodgers was Ryan Brasier in the 7th, who has been great since returning from injury, getting a clean frame on just six pitches. Evan Phillips was next up in the 8th, who had to work around a one-out double, but managed the scoreless frame. And then it was Michael Kopech in the 9th, who gave up just an error on himself that was erased by Will, which was bookended by a pair of strikeouts.
Michael Kopech ends his inning with a strikeout on 101 mph. Had a good rest, I guess. pic.twitter.com/LlXXJz66eZ
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 24, 2024
Thing is, the offense didn’t do much after they tied it. The 6th and 7th saw two-out singles, and then the 8th was clean, but they had a walk-off chance in the 9th thanks to the pen.
Things started well behind Will leaning into one on an 0-2 count, Edman singling to put the winning run in RISP, and Miguel Rojas got a bunt down to move both over. After Lux hit his third hard-hit out of the night, the game was extended when Will didn’t go home for some reason to at least try to force a play. Maybe he was just trying to set the stage, as a Max Muncy walk led to the bases loaded, which brought up … Ohtani for his 40/40 moment.
SHOHEI OHTANI WITH A WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM TO BECOME THE FIRST DODGER IN FRANCHISE HISTORY TO JOIN THE 40/40 CLUB. pic.twitter.com/VvRxCYbaS1
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 24, 2024
THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE 40/40 CLUB, SHOHEI OHTANI. pic.twitter.com/uelszjPD7b
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 24, 2024
Shohei Ohtani has 40 HR & 40 SB
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) August 24, 2024
this is his 126th game, the fewest games played to reach 40-40 club, ahead of:
2006 Alfonso Soriano: 147
1988 Jose Canseco: 151
2023 Ronald Acuña Jr.: 152
1998 Alex Rodriguez: 153
1996 Barry Bonds: 158 https://t.co/lGjzVpvk5w
The replays. All the replays.
Watching this Sho on repeat. pic.twitter.com/xcGSS0zbJ3
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 24, 2024
This view of Shohei making history. 😍 pic.twitter.com/xfnULjNcAy
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 24, 2024
A historical walk-off celebration at home plate. pic.twitter.com/h0zLw9juOk
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 24, 2024
A grand ol’ celebration.
Ohtani splash! pic.twitter.com/oT0yoGIxYj
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 24, 2024
Dad said Shohei said this was his most memorable moment as a Dodger (Will didn't translate that, apparently).
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 24, 2024
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NL WEST | RECORD |
---|---|
Dodgers | 77-52 |
Diamondbacks | 73-56 (4 GB) |
Padres | 73-57 (4.5 GB) |
*Currently playing.
The two teams will do it again tomorrow an hour earlier at 3:10 PM HT/6:10 PM PT/9:10 PM ET. It’ll be Clayton Kershaw looking to continue his effectiveness after injury against Taj Bradley.