The Los Angeles Dodgers walked off the Toronto Blue Jays in an 18-inning behemoth of a World Series game to take a 2-1 lead in the Fall Classic. A Freddie Freeman home run was the way that the extraordinary game ended, but amid the elation, it was easy to forget that there was another game to play just 17 hours later.
Not only that, but Tuesday’s starting pitcher was on base nine times in the 18-inning game.
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Superstar Shohei Ohtani went 4-for-4 with two home runs and two doubles. He knocked in three RBIs and collected five walks, four of which were intentional (and one semi-intentional).
Despite becoming the first player in MLB history with three multi-home run games in a single postseason (and the only player to ever be intentionally walked that many times), he is still human. Manager Dave Roberts spoke after the game regarding how drained Ohtani was after the 18-inning classic.
“He’s spent. He was on base eight, nine times tonight, running the bases,” Roberts said. “He’s elated. But, yeah, he’s taking the mound tomorrow. He’ll be ready.”
Ohtani was incredible on Monday night, but the fact that he will take the mound on Tuesday night after a game tied for the longest in postseason history is nothing short of heroic. The soon to be four-time MVP gave a very relatable quote that perhaps most of the baseball world was feeling after that game.
“I want to go to sleep as soon as possible so I will be ready,” Ohtani said through his interpreter.
Ohtani as a pitcher last graced the mound during Game 4 of the NLCS where he struck out 10 batters and allowed just two hits in 6+ innings of work. In the batter’s box that same night, he went 3-for-3 with three home runs, including one that left Dodger Stadium.
He had significantly more sleep before his last pitching performance, but should be ready for his World Series debut as a pitcher.
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Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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