Shohei Ohtani has another unreal game
Add another entry to the list of “Shohei Ohtani’s greatest games.”
Los Angeles’s 18-inning win over Toronto in Game 3 of the World Series was historic for several reasons, not the least of which included Ohtani’s night at the plate. Baseball’s unicorn found yet another way to impress.
Ohtani’s plate appearances, in order: 2B, HR, 2B, HR, IBB (CS), IBB, IBB, IBB, BB. 4-for-4, 2 doubles, 2 homers, 3 RBI, 3 runs scored, 5 walks.
The first player to ever reach base nine times in a postseason game (a feat that’s been done only three times in a regular season game, the last in 1942).
Just the second player with four extra-base hits in a postseason game (Frank Isbell, 1906 Game 5).
This was Ohtani’s third multi-homer game this postseason (the first to do so)
His 12 total bases match his total from Game 4 of the NLCS. Only Babe Ruth has two postseason games in his career with 12+ total bases, and they didn’t come in the same year.
Three of his four intentional walks came with the bases empty. Albert Pujols is the only other player ever to be intentionally walked with nobody on in a WS game.
That aforementioned NLCS Game 4 is also on the list, of course. Ohtani’s plate appearances: HR, BB, HR, HR. 3-for-3, 3 homers, 3 RBI, 3 runs scored, 1 walk.
Plus six scoreless innings of work on the mound, allowing two hits, walking three, and striking out 10.
The first pitcher to lead off a game with a home run, regular season or postseason.
The win completed a four-game sweep of the NL-leading Milwaukee Brewers to send the Dodgers to their second consecutive WS.
The postseason context certainly helps elevate these two games, but it’s hard to top September 19, 2024, in Miami. Ohtani’s plate appearances: 2B (SB), 1B (SB), 2B, HR, HR, HR, 6-for-6, 2 doubles, 3 homers, 10 RBI, 4 runs scored.
His two steals (numbers 49 and 50 on the season) and three homers (49, 50, 51) made him the first 50-50 player in MLB history.
It’s the first time a player has hit three homers and stolen two bases in a single game.
His 10 RBI set a Dodgers franchise record.
There are several other games on the growing list.
World Series notes
Freddie Freeman became just the fourth player with multiple postseason walk-off home runs. He’s the first to hit both in World Series games. The others: David Ortiz, Carlos Correa, and Bernie Williams.
The 18-inning game matches the longest game in World Series history, Game 3 of the 2018 WS (Dad and I attended Game 2 in Boston, two nights earlier). Both 18-inning games took place at Dodger Stadium with Brad Paisley singing the national anthem beforehand. No, really.
Max Scherzer vs. Shohei Ohtani marked just the second time in WS history that a three-time Cy Young Award winner faced a three-time MVP winner. The first was when Pedro Martínez faced Álex Rodríguez in 2009.
Around the college game …
LSU has locked up pitching coach Nate Yeskie with a three-year contract extension that also more than quadruples his annual salary. Yeskie has been the Tigers’ pitching coach for the last two seasons, during which the program has led the NCAA in strikeouts and produced 14 MLB draft picks.
With Tony Vitello’s departure to manage the San Francisco Giants, the University of Tennessee has promoted associate head coach Josh Elander to fill his role. Elander worked under Vitello during his whole tenure with the Volunteers and was largely responsible for most of the team’s recruiting efforts.
Outfielder Jaden Bastian is going to miss significant time after fracturing his leg during an intrasquad scrimmage game over the weekend. Bastian was expected to be a key addition to the Florida Gators lineup this season after transferring from Jacksonville University, where he hit .302/.433/.552 in 261 PA while stealing 36 bases.
Will Brick, who was a part of Team USA’s gold medal-winning team at the U-18 World Cup this summer and who had already reclassified from the 2027 to 2026 Class (he’s graduating HS early), is considered by many to be the top prep catcher in the country. Brick has committed to Mississippi State, but it’s likely a formality, as he’ll be projected highly in next July’s MLB Draft, and he isn’t expected to end up on campus for the Bulldogs.
Elsewhere, around the sport …
The Rakuten Monkeys defeat the CTBC Brothers 9-7 in 11 innings to win Game 5 of the Taiwan Series and win the CPBL championship. It is the eighth championship in franchise history, but the first since Rakuten purchased the team following the 2019 season.