Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani made history on Friday night, hitting a two-out grand slam in the ninth inning for his 40th home run after earlier stealing his 40th base. This remarkable feat made Ohtani the fastest player in MLB history to reach the 40-40 milestone, achieving it in his 126th game of the season. The Dodgers went on to secure a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays thanks to Ohtani’s clutch performance.
Ohtani broke the previous record held by Alfonso Soriano, who accomplished the feat in Game 148 for the Washington Nationals in 2006. Ohtani’s accomplishment was celebrated by the Dodger fans and his teammates, with a standing ovation and a water shower on the field.
The game was tied 3-3 heading into the ninth inning when Ohtani delivered the game-winning grand slam. Earlier in the game, Kiké Hernández had tied the score with a three-run homer. Despite the Rays taking an early 3-0 lead with two-out homers, the Dodgers managed to come back and secure the win.
In addition to his offensive heroics, Ohtani’s performance on the field also played a crucial role in the victory. Pitcher Michael Kopech secured the win after an error in the ninth inning and an impressive strikeout against Rays center fielder Jose Siri.
This milestone moment in Ohtani’s career further solidifies his reputation as a multi-talented player and a key asset for the Dodgers. The team can look forward to more exceptional performances from Ohtani as they continue their season in pursuit of further successes.
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