Shohei Ohtani stole his 49th base and inched closer to making major league history as the first player to achieve both 50 homers and 50 steals in a season. This milestone came during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 8-4 victory over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night.
Ohtani, who started the day just two home runs and two steals away from the unprecedented milestone, began the game with a single and then promptly stole second base. His subsequent at-bats saw him flying out to left, striking out twice, and lining out to right.
“What a season – it is remarkable that he can hit as a DH, but what’s more remarkable is that he keeps his legs loose to be able to steal,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
Tommy Edman, continuing his recent hot streak, hit his sixth homer in the last eight games for the NL West-leading Dodgers (90-62). Enrique Hernández and Will Smith also homered, and Freddie Freeman contributed three hits. This win marked the Dodgers’ 90th victory for the 11th consecutive season.
“It’s pretty impressive. It’s one of the best organizations in baseball as far as consistency of winning,” Roberts said. “You can’t take it for granted because getting to play in October isn’t a rite of passage for any organization.”
Dodgers starter Landon Knack (3-4) delivered a strong performance, giving up just two hits over five scoreless innings while striking out seven. This outing served as redemption after his challenging start against Atlanta last Friday, where he allowed five runs and seven hits in just two innings.
“Obviously, not happy with that one,” Knack said. “I was very angry and ready to bounce back.”
Will Smith gave Los Angeles an early lead with a solo homer in the second inning, his 19th of the season. The Dodgers further extended their lead with a five-run fourth inning against Miami starter Ryan Weathers (3-6), which included a two-run homer from Tommy Edman and a three-run shot by Enrique Hernández.
“I’ve had some bad habits that I’ve developed and I’ve been working hard to correct those,” Edman said about his recent power surge. “It’s still a work in progress but I think it’s getting better.”
Miami managed to narrow the gap with Otto López’s two-run single off Zach Logue and Nick Fortes’ sacrifice fly against Blake Treinen in the seventh inning. However, Chris Taylor added a two-run single in the eighth to solidify the Dodgers’ lead.
Weathers, making his first appearance since June 7 due to a left index finger strain, was relieved in the fifth inning after allowing six runs and eight hits while striking out five.
“I was happy to be back,” Weathers said. “I wish I could have thrown the ball better.”
Wednesday’s game drew a crowd of 17,138, pushing the Marlins’ season attendance to 1,007,039, which is ahead of only the Oakland A’s.
Before the game, the Dodgers activated right-handed reliever Joe Kelly from the injured list and called up Zach Logue from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Kelly pitched a perfect sixth inning in relief of Knack. The club also optioned right-handed pitchers Bobby Miller and Michael Grove to Oklahoma City.
In terms of player health updates, Dodgers’ left-hander Clayton Kershaw (left big toe bone spur) threw a bullpen session on Wednesday, an important step in his rehab according to Roberts. Infielder Miguel Rojas was a late scratch due to feeling under the weather. For the Marlins, right-hander Max Meyer (right shoulder bursitis) is continuing his rehab program at the club’s spring training complex in Jupiter, Florida, and will be evaluated for a possible throwing program in the coming days.
For the series finale on Thursday, RHP Jack Flaherty (12-7, 3.04) will take the mound for the Dodgers, while the Marlins will counter with RHP Edward Cabrera (4-7, 4.55).
