No. 41 explosion, NL co-leader Ohtani, but he also stole too much and struck out swinging with the bases loaded in the ninth inning

Aug 11, 2025

No. 41 explosion, NL co-leader Ohtani, but he also stole too much and struck out swinging with the bases loaded in the ninth inning
LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani hits a superior solo home run in the bottom of the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium on the 11th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News



No. 41 explosion, NL co-leader Ohtani, but he also stole too much and struck out swinging with the bases loaded in the ninth inning
LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani is stepping down after being struck out with a swing and a full base chance with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium on the 11th (Korea time). AFP Yonhap News
LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani recovered his OPS point range by tying for the lead in home runs, but struck out with a decisive stealer.

Ohtani played as the leadoff designated hitter in the final game of the three consecutive home games against the Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium on the 11th (Korea time) and swung two hits, one RBI, one run and two walks in four at-bats, including a home run.

However, the Dodgers suffered a come-from-behind loss of 4-5 with 16 remaining bases even after getting 10 hits and 13 walks.




Ohtani fired a cannon at his first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning, trailing 0-1. Against Toronto left-hander Scott Lauer, he pulled an 86.7-mile cutter that flew into the middle of the fourth pitch at the ball count 1B2S and easily crossed the right fence.

The ball, which flew at an angle of 25 degrees and 106.3 miles, fell 400 feet into the middle of the right outfield stands.

Ohtani, who drew an arch for two consecutive days after hitting a solo shot in the middle of the fifth inning against Toronto the previous day, marked 41 home runs of the season and rose back to the joint lead in the NL. Philadelphia Phillies Kyle Schwarber went 0-for-3 against the Texas Rangers, maintaining his 41 home runs.




No. 41 explosion, NL co-leader Ohtani, but he also stole too much and struck out swinging with the bases loaded in the ninth inning
Otani is circling the base after hitting a tying solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. AFP Yonhap News
No. 41 explosion, NL co-leader Ohtani, but he also stole too much and struck out swinging with the bases loaded in the ninth inning
Toronto Blue Jays starter Eric Lauer pitches in the bottom of the first inning. AP Yonhap News
Lauer, who allowed Ohtani to hit a tiebreaking home run, is from the KBO. Last year, he joined the KIA Tigers as an alternative mercenary, lost 2-2 with a 4.93 ERA in seven games, and signed a minor league contract last winter and joined Toronto. It was a condition that he would receive $2.2 million in annual salary if he went to the Major League, but he went to the Major League on May 1st and started with the bullpen, and then joined the rotation since mid-June and continued his good pitching.

However, he allowed three runs during three innings due to extreme ball control difficulties, giving up six hits and four walks, including two homers.

Against Lauer, the Dodgers turned the tide 2-1 when Freddie Freeman hit a solo home run in left-center after two outs in the first inning. Freeman pushed Lauer's third pitch, 92.8 miles outside fastball, to draw a 390-foot arch for distance on the two-strike. 14th home run of the season.




Ohtani went out on four pitches with one out and a runner on second in the bottom of the second inning, and in the fourth inning with a 3-1 lead, he missed right-hander Lewis Burland's 100.3-mile fastball and struck out as a rookie.

He added a hit in the fourth at-bat after one out in the sixth inning with a 3-2 lead. He hit right-hander Serantoni Dominguez's 97.2 mile fastball on the sixth pitch to lead to a single that fell in front of center field. After successful stealing the second base, the opposing pitcher changed to Brandon Little after two outs, and the inning ended as he was tagged out at third base while attempting a double steal with first baseman Will Smith at Freeman's at-bat.

The local broadcaster said, `I can't believe you're trying so hard", he pointed out. It is the moment when the Dodgers were deprived of the flow.

No. 41 explosion, NL co-leader Ohtani, but he also stole too much and struck out swinging with the bases loaded in the ninth inning
LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani steals second base in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium on the 11th (Korea time). ImagesYonhap News
Ohtani went out with four pitches on purpose in the eighth inning, and struck out swinging in the ninth inning.

The Dodgers allowed Blake Trinen to turn the tables 3-4 after one out in the top of the eighth inning with a 3-2 lead and back-to-back home runs from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Jake Berger. Then, with the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Freeman's pushing walk tied the score, but Alex Besia ended up losing in the top of the ninth inning when he hit a solo home run for the left-handed final by leader Ernie Clement.

Ohtani struck out swinging and Mookie Betts grounded out to third base in the bottom of the ninth inning with one out and a full base chance, and failed to turn the game around. Ohtani lost his bat to the sweeper, which dropped 83 miles low, after a close game to left-hander rookie Mason Fluherty.

No. 41 explosion, NL co-leader Ohtani, but he also stole too much and struck out swinging with the bases loaded in the ninth inning
LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani is striking out swinging with the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium on the 11th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News
With this, Ohtani had a season batting average of 0.284 (129 hits in 455 at-bats), 41 home runs, 77 RBIs, 111 runs, 76 walks, 144 strikeouts, 17 steals, a on-base percentage of 0.388, a slugging percentage of 0.620 and an OPS of 1.008.

It is the first time in 36 days that Ohtani has risen to the one-point OPS since July 6.

This three-game series ends with a winning series of two wins and one lossJuss had a 68-50 record and kept the NL West lead. However, the San Diego Padres (66-52) beat the Boston Red Sox 6-2, closely following them by two games. Toronto maintained its AL East lead with 69 wins and 50 losses.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.