LOS ANGELES — It was quite the week for Shohei Ohtani.
On Thursday, Ohtani had his first bobblehead night as a member of the Dodgers, creating massive lines outside of Dodger Stadium up to four hours before first pitch. The lines were so long that the Dodgers opened the gates early.
The following day, Ohtani was recognized by the Los Angeles City Council, who declared that May 17 will be Shohei Ohtani Day in L.A. County for at least the next decade while the two-time American League Most Valuable Player wears a Dodgers uniform. Ohtani, of course, homered later that night.
On Sunday, Ohtani wrapped up the eventful weekend with his first walk-off hit since joining the Dodgers, an RBI single off right-hander Alexis Díaz to give Los Angeles a 3-2 win over Cincinnati at Dodger Stadium.
“Overall, [it was a] special weekend,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “I wasn’t able to get a base hit during my bobblehead day, but I was able to end it on a very good note.”
Through 47 games, Ohtani leads the Dodgers in just about every offensive category. Even as a designated hitter, he’s cemented himself as one of the very early front-runners to be named NL MVP. But if there’s been one area where Ohtani has struggled this season, it’s batting with runners in scoring position.
Ohtani recorded just one hit in his first 21 plate appearances with runners in scoring position. After a game in which he swung at the first pitch in three at-bats, manager Dave Roberts said the team had a conversation with Ohtani about getting better with his approach in such situations. Since then, Ohtani has been better, including working a good count against Díaz and depositing a single on a pitch down and in that most left-handed batters would roll over to first base.
The Dodgers’ designated hitter is now 12-for-50 with 14 RBIs with runners in scoring position this season.
“It’s gotten better,” Roberts said. “I think that there’s certain times [when if] you can expand, you should expand. But I think, by and large, you need to stay disciplined in your strike zone, and certainly Shohei covers more than most players. But, you know, the last four weeks, he’s been very stubborn in the strike zone, earning good pitches to hit. And when they make mistakes, he takes advantage.”
Though it was Ohtani who delivered the final blow, he wasn’t the only one to make contributions. The stars on the roster are what make the Dodgers one of the most dangerous teams in the Majors. But it’s their overall depth that can take them over the top.
Rookie right-hander Landon Knack continued his strong opening to his career with a spot start on Sunday, allowing one run over 4 2/3 innings. Even as he navigates through going back and forth between the Majors and Minors, Knack has a 2.61 ERA through four big league starts.
“He’s in a tough spot where he goes down there and pitches and then comes up and makes spot starts and it’s not easy,” Roberts said. “So you got to be some kind of focused to be able to that.”
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Following Knack, the Dodgers’ bullpen flexed its muscles yet again — despite being down four high-leverage arms. Ryan Yarbrough, Alex Vesia, Blake Treinen and newcomer Anthony Banda combined to allow just one run over the last 5 1/3 innings.
“It just kind of shows the depth we have,” Yarbrough said. “Just the amount of guys who have been able to come up and really step up.”
After losing the opener to the Reds, the Dodgers wanted to return the favor over the weekend. The pitching was stellar throughout and they got timely hitting. Sunday was another team effort for the Dodgers, once again led by their new superstar.
“He’s been swinging the bat really well,” said Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman. “Nobody better to have in that situation.”
