Ohtani's walk-off shots are all historical 4040 and the opening eight in a row

Apr 03, 2025

LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on the 3rd (Korea time) and is celebrating his teammates. AP Yonhap News

Otani bubble head distributed by the LA Dodgers to the spectators on the 3rd (Korea time). The one in his left hand is last year's MVP plaque. Photo = LA Dodgers Club X Account

The Los Angeles Dodgers have won eight consecutive games. This is thanks to Shohei Ohtani's dramatic walk-off home run.

In the home game against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on the 3rd (Korea time), Ohtani led the team to a 6-5 victory by hitting a solo home run in the middle of the ninth inning with a 5-5 tie.

When Reissel Iglesias' first 88.9-mile changeup fell flat on the outside course, he swung his bat lightly and slightly over the left side of the central fence at Dodger Stadium. Ohtani's 399-foot home run of the season.

The 5,281 Dodgers fans who filled the stands fell into a frenzy. This was the first day of the Ohtani bubblehead day planned by the Dodgers this season. All the fans who entered held Ohtani bubbleheads in their hands, holding the MVP trophy, which was unanimously won last year. As if he knew the time, Ohtani became the hero of victory at the last minute.

Otani hits a walk-off home run off Atlanta closer Raicel Iglesias' first pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning. AFP Yonhap News

It was Ohtani's second career walk-off home run. In the bottom of the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium on August 24 last year, with two outs, Colin Forshay hit an 84.3-mile outside slider on the fifth pitch to end the game. At that time, the home run was Ohtani's 40th home run of the season to achieve 40-40 points.

Ohtani played for the Angels for six seasons and never hit a walk-off home run. However, he has already recorded two in his second season after moving to the Dodgers. That's why he's a leading MVP candidate.

The Dodgers returned to the U.S. after two consecutive opening games against the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome on the 18th and 19th of last month, and three consecutive home games against the Detroit Tigers, and swept all three consecutive games against Atlanta to win the opening eight consecutive games. He broke the opening record of the defending champion set by the New York Yankees in 1933 for the first time in 92 years.

In addition, the eight-game winning streak is the most since the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958. The Dodgers won six consecutive games in 1981, breaking the record the previous day for the first time in 44 years and adding one win on the day. For reference, the Dodgers' record for the most consecutive wins in a row is 10 consecutive wins, which was set in 1955 when they were in Brooklyn.

Coach Dave Roberts hugs and rejoices when Otani hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. AFP Yonhap News

Before the game, manager Dave Roberts said "I know mathematically that 162 wins and no losses are impossible, but I think I have to say the same thing every night. Every time we go out to the field every day, we feel like we're going to win." Six of the Dodgers' eight wins are come from behind. The Dodgers are unlikely to lose.

Roberts said after the game, `It was the worst game of the season. I'm lost for words in our players' play. I don't even know what happened in the beginning"I was at a loss for words that I won such a game. I didn't mean to win the game like that, but I trusted our players and won the fight"Joyed.

Starting pitcher Blake Snell said "When Otani took the batter's box, everyone knew it was his bubblehead day. We knew it too. It's just what he does," he said, praising Ohtani's performance.

Max Muncy, who went to hell with a dramatic tie-breaking double in the eighth inning after two errors early in the game, said "I talked about Shohei last year, but he never disappoints me when I can't imagine it and when it's crucial. I'm not shocked at all (I hit a walk-off home run today), but what he does is still shocking"

"He's the best player in the major leagues," said Atlanta third baseman Austin Riley. The moment you make a mistake, you are very likely to pay the price. The reason why he is the best…" he pointed out Iglesias' actual pitching.

The party, Ohtani, thinks it's Max Mearns who was able to draw the flow and tie it. With the score tied, I felt like I had a really good chance as I entered the last at-bat", referring to Muncy's tiebreaking double.