LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 23: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after hitting a walk-off grand slam home run, his 40th home run of the season, against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium on August 23, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Shohei Ohtani hit a two-out, game-winning grand slam in the ninth inning for his 40th home run after earlier stealing his 40th base, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night.
Ohtani became the fastest player in Major League history and the sixth ever to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in a season. He’s also the first Dodger to do so.
"I was somewhat aware of it [the history]," said Ohtani of his accomplishment. "I was really in the process of just trying to win a ball game."
He broke the record held by Alfonso Soriano, who reached the mark in Game 148 for the Washington Nationals in 2006. Ohtani did it in the Dodgers' 129th game.
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The Japanese superstar came out of the dugout to wave at 45,556 fans who gave him a standing ovation. His teammates showered Ohtani with water on the field.
Will Smith was hit by Manuel Rodriguez (2-3) leading off the ninth and Tommy Edman followed with a single. Smith and Edman moved up on Miguel Rojas' sacrifice. Colin Poche came in and walked Muncy to set up Ohtani's 389-foot slam to center.
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"It was really hard to tell from my perspective. I didn't know if the ball had gone over the fence or had been caught," said Ohtani as he watched the ball in flight. "It wasn't until I saw the umpire's hand go up that I realized the ball had gone out."
Tied 3-3, the Rays had the go-ahead run on in the ninth. A ball hit by Jonny DeLuca hit off the heel of reliever Michael Kopech’s glove for an error. DeLuca was caught stealing before Jose Siri struck out on a 101-mph pitch from winning pitcher Kopech (4-8) to end the inning.
In the eighth, the Rays had the potential go-ahead run on third. Brandon Lowe doubled into the left field corner and took third on Junior Caminero’s groundout before Evan Phillips struck out Christopher Morel to end the inning.
Tampa Bay led 3-0 on a pair of two-out homers off Bobby Miller. Caminero blasted a 417-foot solo shot to center with two strikes in the first. Six of the Rays’ first seven hits came with two outs.
Morel added a two-run homer in the third, going deep for his 21st homer and third since coming to the Rays from the Chicago Cubs last month.
Kiké Hernández’s three-run shot tied the game 3-3 in the fifth, chasing Tyler Alexander. Edman singled and Lux walked to set up Hernández’s eighth homer.
Alexander gave up three runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out one and walked two.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: RHP Tyler Glasnow (elbow) is expected to start ramping up Saturday. ... RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (triceps) will throw a bullpen session Monday and go on a rehab assignment Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Taj Bradley (6-8, 3.55 ERA), who was born in Los Angeles, makes his first career start against the Dodgers.
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (2-2, 2.63) scattered four hits over six shutout innings in his last start at St. Louis.
