Shohei Ohtani dazzles ex-Yankees legend with stunning home run in NLCS Game 3 vs Mets
In the NLCS Game 3 vs. the Mets, Shohei Ohtani stepped to the plate with two runners on, one in scoring position, and one out. It was a prime opportunity for the slugger to extend the four-run lead and put the game further out of reach. All he needed was a sacrifice fly, but he blasted a monumental three-run home run to ice the game.
It prompted reactions from the baseball world, including former New York Yankees star Roger Clemens. The pitcher reacted with two words to what Ohtani had done this time:
"Good grief."
The three-run shot in the eighth effectively ended all chances for the New York Mets, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers a crucial 2-1 lead in the NLCS. They will resume play on Thursday for Game 4. Ohtani has been instrumental in getting the Dodgers to this point, but he had been struggling for just a bit before that big home run.
Mookie Betts rips criticism of Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani had been 0/19 with the bases empty in the postseason. He's the leadoff hitter but has struggled to do anything without runners on base. When runners are on base, he hits well. He started the postseason 6/8 with RISP and added another clutch hit last night.
The 0/21 slide with the bases empty continued. But Mookie Betts doesn't believe the criticism is fair at all. He said via MLB that he didn't understand that:
“I have no idea why people are talking about Shohei. He’s the best player on the field every day. Oh, he hasn’t got a hit with nobody on. Who cares? It’s Shohei Ohtani. Everybody knows who he is every time he steps in the box. Everybody is expecting something to happen."
He continued:
“That’s the problem. He’s done it so many times that you expect it. He’s a human for 20 at-bats. It’s Shohei Ohtani.”
Perhaps the Dodgers will consider moving him down to a spot that typically has runners on base, although the current lineup construction has worked quite well so far.