Ohtani Shines with Grand Slam as Dodgers Defeat Rays
- Shohei Ohtani hits a walk-off grand slam to join the 40-40 club.
- This helps the Los Angeles Dodgers secure a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
- Ohtani showcases his exceptional abilities by hitting his 40th home run and stealing his 40th base in the same game.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a thrilling finish, Shohei Ohtani delivered a two-out, game-winning grand slam in the ninth inning, securing a 7-3 victory for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night. This remarkable feat marked Ohtani's 40th home run of the season, and he also achieved his 40th stolen base earlier in the game. With this performance, Ohtani became the fastest player in Major League Baseball history to reach the 40-40 milestone, accomplishing it in just 129 games. The game took a dramatic turn in the ninth inning when Will Smith was hit by a pitch from Manuel Rodriguez, followed by a single from Tommy Edman. A crucial error by reliever Michael Kopech allowed Jonny DeLuca's hit to contribute to the Dodgers' rally. Earlier, the Rays had a chance to take the lead in the eighth inning, but the Dodgers' defense held strong. The Rays initially took the lead with a 417-foot solo home run from Caminero in the first inning. However, the Dodgers responded in the fifth when Kiké Hernández hit a three-run homer, tying the game at 3-3 and chasing starting pitcher Tyler Alexander from the mound. Looking ahead, the Dodgers are set to see RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto return from injury with a bullpen session on Monday, while the Rays will feature RHP Taj Bradley making his first career start against the Dodgers.