LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dodger Stadium buzzed with excitement during a memorable night, particularly for Shohei Ohtani. The superstar not only celebrated his bobblehead giveaway with flair but also delivered a stunning performance that included two massive home runs and six runs batted in. Yet, the game took a twist in the eighth inning when Ohtani faced an unexpected challenger in Jhonny Pereda.
In a twist of fate, Pereda, the backup catcher for the Athletics, stepped onto the pitcher’s mound, facing off against the multi-talented Ohtani, who was looking to build on his already impressive numbers. With the Dodgers well ahead at 17-2, the moment was ripe for a dramatic exchange.
Pereda approached the duel with a surprising strategy, unleashing pitches that fluctuated between 62 and 68 mph. Ohtani, typically aggressive at the plate, displayed remarkable patience, allowing one strike to go by and managing to foul off another. The intrigue peaked when Pereda surprised everyone with an 89-mph fastball.
In a shocking turn, Ohtani’s effort to connect led to a foul tip that was caught, marking a rare instance where a top-tier home run hitter struck out against a position player. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts couldn’t help but comment on the peculiar scenario, snickering, “He struck out against a position player, how about that?”
Pereda savored his accomplishment, keeping the ball as a trophy of his unusual achievement. Shortly after, Miguel Rojas stepped up, wielding Ohtani’s own bat and driving in a run with an RBI single. This moment further accentuated the lighthearted rivalry that emerged amid such an imbalanced scoreline.
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy captured the jovial mood by remarking, “It’s kind of like, ‘Hey, I’ll show you how it’s done,’” as he watched the amusing sequence unfold. In the end, the Dodgers celebrated a commanding 19-2 victory over the A’s.
What truly stands out is Ohtani’s history on bobblehead nights; he has consistently wowed fans, leading to jubilant celebrations on three out of four occasions. Earlier this season, on April 2, he electrified the crowd with a dramatic walk-off home run during a similar event.
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