Major League superstar Shohei Ohtani (30) became silent after five games without a hit. Veteran Texas bullpen pitcher David Robertson (39), who struck out Ohtani for two consecutive days, drew attention as a key player. 실시간 바카라사이트
At the 2024 home game against the Texas Rangers held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on Tuesday, Ohtani started as the second designated hitter and recorded no hit in four times at bat. The Dodgers lost 1-3, losing its second straight game.
Ohtani failed to save his team as he remained silent in the opportunity. Ohtani’s batting average for this season fell from 311 to 306. Ohtani grounded out towards the second base in his first at-bat in the first inning, when his team gave up the lead 0-2. He was caught with a fly ball to the outfield in the third inning and the second at-bat. He also failed to record a hit in his third at-bat. While his team was losing 0-3, Ohtani grounded out to the second base with one out and no runner in the sixth inning.
Ohtani took the batter’s box in the bottom of the eighth inning when his team was losing 1-3, with one out and runners on the first and third bases. On the mound was right-hander Robertson, the second Texas pitcher. He was the same opponent when Ohtani struck out three pitches on the previous day. Ohtani watched the first-pitch cut fastball strike and recorded a foul on the second-pitch cut fastball. Then, as he came to the center, his bat hit the air due to the three-pitch knuckle curve falling one-bound. The Dodgers also struck out Freddie Freeman, its follow-up. The Dodgers failed to take advantage of a critical chance in the bottom of the eighth inning, and lost the game as it was.
Taking the mound in the bottom of the eighth inning, Robertson was on the verge of hitting the first and third bases with no outs after a hit to the right by Curban Vizio, but then struck out three batters in a row. The opponent who struck out was Mookie Betts-Otani-Freeman.
Robertson took the mound in the bottom of the eighth inning with a 3-1 lead on the previous day, before striking out all three batters in the same inning and in the same score situation for two consecutive days, blocking all innings with strikeouts. Notably, he struck out six pitches in a row to Ohtani, who faced off for two consecutive days.
Robertson, a 39-year-old veteran who looks forward to the implosion after the game, received much attention. He is a bullpen pitcher who made 175 saves until last season since his debut in 2008. He throws a ball that exceeds 150 kilometers per hour even ahead of the implosion, using cut fast balls and knuckle curves as his main weapons. This is why defending champion Texas hired a veteran with a huge amount of $11.5 million ahead of this season.
Robertson is doing his part in the bullpen this season as expected. In 28 games, he has two wins, three losses, one save and a 3.19 ERA. Notably, he has outstanding strikeouts as he has struck out 46 during 31 innings.
After the game, Robertson calmly said about the secret of striking out Ohtani on three pitches for two consecutive days, “I focused on the idea that I should keep the lead by holding him back with no runs. I tried to throw him to the center because he had tremendous power.”