BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Shohei Ohtani delivered a commanding performance on the mound Wednesday night, striking out 10 batters over six innings to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 8-2 victory over the New York Mets, even as he was held out of the batting lineup due to a recent injury scare.
The two-way superstar, who has redefined modern baseball with his ability to both pitch and hit at elite levels, focused exclusively on pitching for the first time in nearly four years during a start. The decision followed an incident earlier in the week when he was struck on the back of his right shoulder by a pitch from Mets left-hander David Peterson. Though Ohtani remained in that game, lingering soreness prompted the Dodgers’ coaching staff to limit his role in the series finale.
Freed from his usual dual responsibilities, Ohtani appeared sharper and more composed on the mound. He allowed just one run on two hits while generating 22 swinging strikes, a career high since joining the Dodgers. His outing included a dominant sixth inning in which he struck out the side on just 14 pitches, showcasing both precision and power.
Manager Dave Roberts praised Ohtani’s performance, noting a visible difference in focus compared to recent starts. He suggested that concentrating solely on pitching may have helped the right-hander regain rhythm and confidence after what he described as slightly inconsistent outings.
For Ohtani, the adjustment was noticeable but manageable. He acknowledged that the time between innings felt longer than usual without the need to prepare for at-bats, but said the extra time allowed him to concentrate more deeply on strategy and execution.
The decision to remove Ohtani from the lineup marked the first time since May 2021, during his tenure with the Los Angeles Angels, that he pitched in a game without also serving as a hitter. While initially surprised by the move, Ohtani accepted the reasoning, which prioritized both his recovery and long-term performance.
Roberts indicated before the game that under normal circumstances, Ohtani would have continued his dual role. However, the organization opted for caution, viewing the adjustment as beneficial for both the player and the team as they manage his workload through the season.
Encouragingly for the Dodgers, Ohtani showed no signs of lingering discomfort during or after the outing. He did not require icing on his shoulder postgame, a detail Roberts described as a positive indicator of his recovery. The manager added that Ohtani has been improving steadily since the hit-by-pitch incident.
At the plate, Ohtani has struggled slightly in the immediate aftermath, going hitless in seven at-bats since being struck. Still, he extended his remarkable on-base streak to 48 games after drawing an intentional walk the previous night, setting a new benchmark for Japanese-born players and surpassing the mark set by Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki.
The Dodgers compensated for Ohtani’s absence in the lineup with contributions from other players, most notably Dalton Rushing, who stepped in as designated hitter and delivered a decisive blow with a grand slam in the eighth inning. The late surge put the game out of reach and underscored the team’s offensive depth.
Despite the strong outing, Ohtani’s streak of 28 2/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run came to an end in the fifth inning when MJ Melendez drove in a run with a double. Ohtani responded by elevating his intensity, increasing his velocity and finishing the game with authority.
Roberts noted that Ohtani’s fastball consistently sat in the upper-90s, occasionally touching 100 mph as he dug deeper following the Mets’ brief offensive breakthrough. The performance highlighted his ability to adjust mid-game and maintain dominance under pressure.
Looking ahead, the Dodgers expect Ohtani to resume his full two-way role in his next start, though the coaching staff is considering periodic adjustments to manage fatigue. Roberts acknowledged that strategically limiting Ohtani’s offensive duties on pitching days could be beneficial over the course of a long season, though no firm decision has been made.
The question of how best to balance Ohtani’s workload remains a central consideration for the team. While he is widely regarded as one of the game’s most valuable hitters, ensuring his effectiveness on the mound is equally critical.
Ohtani himself appeared open to flexibility, even joking about the possibility of becoming a one-way player again after Rushing’s standout performance at designated hitter. His lighthearted response reflected both confidence in his teammates and a willingness to adapt for the team’s success.
Since joining the Dodgers’ pitching rotation, Ohtani has continued to build on an already impressive résumé. Last season, he posted a 2.87 earned run average with 62 strikeouts over 47 innings, relying heavily on a four-seam fastball that averaged a career-best 98.4 mph.
Wednesday’s performance reinforced his status as one of baseball’s most unique and dominant talents. Whether contributing from the mound, the batter’s box, or both, Ohtani remains a central figure in the Dodgers’ pursuit of another championship, demonstrating once again that his impact on the game extends far beyond conventional roles.
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