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MLB News & Moments You Should Know: 9/20/2024

Ohtani reaches 50-50 with 6-for-6, 3-homer, 10-RBI game.

Steve Drumwright
MLB Morning News 9/20/2024

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Some are calling it the the best game by a hitter in the history of Major League Baseball. What Shohei Ohtani has been doing on the diamond this year has been spectacular, not to mention his push from 40-40 to 50-50. Don’t even think of downplaying his accomplishments because an elbow injury is limiting him to only being a designated hitter. But to go 6-for-6 with three homers, two stolen bases and driving in 10 runs in a game in which he reached not only 50 steals, but 50 homers, too? Those are video-game numbers. But he is just an incredible athlete doing incredible things. Even the commissioner had to weigh in on the historic day. Ohtani became the seventh player in history to have 17 or more total bases in one game — and the only player not to have four home runs in that performance. Before this season, Ohtani’s career high for homers was 46 in 2021, when he won the first of his two AL MVPs with the Los Angeles Angels. His best stolen base total also came in 2021, when he swiped 26. Just wait until next season, when he will return to his role as a starting pitcher and also play the outfield.

 

Today’s Headlines

 

Ohtani Creates Historic 50-50 Club

 

Dodgers slugger goes 6-for-6 with 3 homers, 2 steals, 10 RBIs

 

There is only one player who could upstage two clinchings — and his name is Shohei Ohtani. And he did so for multiple reasons. The Japanese sensation, who has set many once-in-a-lifetime records as a pitcher and hitter in his seven-year career, went where no other player has gone: The 50-50 club. After stealing bases No. 50 and 51 in the game, Ohtani then launched his 49th, 50th, and 51st homers of the season in the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ 20-4 shellacking of the Miami Marlins. The win clinched a postseason spot for the Dodgers. Ohtani’s history-making feats were part of a 6-for-6 day that also included a pair of doubles and 10 RBIs. It was almost better. His first-inning double was a rocket off the wall in left-center, just missing a fourth homer.

With stealing back in vogue following rules changes before the 2023 season, Ohtani’s record-breaking performance follows up Ronald Acuña Jr.’s 41-homer, 73-steal showing last year for Atlanta. Ohtani, who easily leads the NL in homers (Atlanta’s Marcell Ozuna is second with 38), will be the first player since Tris Speaker of the Boston Red Sox in 1912 to lead the league in homers and steal at least 50 bases and just the fifth overall. None of the previous four hit more than Speaker’s 10 homers. The most stolen bases in a 50-homer season before this was the 24 by Willie Mays of the New York Giants in 1956 (51 homers) and Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees in 2007 (54 homers).

Stolen base No. 50: First inning, steal of third.

Stolen base No. 51: Second inning, steal of second. He has been safe on his last 28 steal attempts. Of his 51 steals, 35 have come since the calendar flipped to July.

Home run No. 49: Sixth inning, two-run shot off right-hander George Soriano on an 0-1 pitch.

Home run No. 50: Seventh inning, opposite-field two-run shot to left off right-hander Mike Baumann on an 0-2 pitch. This homer broke Shawn Green’s single-season Dodgers record of 49 set in 2001.

Home run No. 51: Ninth inning, opposite-field three-run shot to deep left off position player Vidal Bruján on a 2-0 pitch.

 

As Expected, Dodgers In Playoffs

 

Ohtani’s one-man show overshadowed the Dodgers clinching a spot in the postseason. But then again, that was written into stone when the Dodgers signed Ohtani to a record-breaking 10-year, $700 contract in December. It just became official Thursday. The NL West title is all but likely in the Dodgers’ hands (their magic number is six) as they lead the San Diego Padres by four games with nine to play, with a huge three-game series in L.A. beginning Tuesday. So this Dodgers celebration wasn’t as extravagant as they eye another division title, with hopes of returning to the World Series for the first time since winning it all in 2020, the pandemic-shortened season.

 

Guardians Clinch, Eye Central Title

 

Do you believe in Stephen Vogt? The Cleveland Guardians sure did and that high-risk move has them back in the postseason after a one-year absence. Andrés Giménez singled home José Ramírez from third base with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Guardians a 3-2 triumph over the reeling Minnesota Twins, clinching a spot in the playoffs. The Guardians also closed in on the AL Central title as they lead the Kansas City Royals by 6½ games with 10 to play. Vogt, as many probably know by now, had no managerial experience and was just a year removed from finishing his playing career when the Guardians hired him to replace the legendary Terry Francona, who retired due to health reasons. Getting his team to the postseason so quickly after his own career is a rare accomplishment. The Twins, meanwhile, dropped from sole possession into a tie for the third and final AL wild-card berth with the surging Detroit Tigers, who had the day off. The Twins continue their road trip against the Boston Red Sox this weekend, while the Tigers are also on the road vs. the Baltimore Orioles.

 

Mets Throw First Punch Against Phillies

 

After dropping two of three to the Philadelphia Phillies on the road last weekend, the New York Mets were champing at the bit for a rematch with the NL East leaders at Citi Field. If you scored this game as a boxing match, the Mets knocked the Phillies to the canvas in the first round. Thanks to four home runs, the Mets took the opener 10-6. While the Mets only have a mathematical shot at the division title — trailing by six with nine games remaining — their sights are set on one of the three NL wild-card berths. Following their fourth straight win, the Mets remain tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the No. 2 spot, two games ahead of Atlanta. The D’backs beat the newly crowned NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers 5-1, while Atlanta clobbered the Cincinnati Reds 15-3 (more on this one later). The Mets also set a franchise record by scoring 10 or more runs in their third consecutive game. Mark Vientos and Pete Alonso hit back-to-back homers in the first inning, while Brandon Nimmo hit a go-ahead two-run shot in the third inning and Francisco Alvarez smashed a three-run homer during a five-run fourth inning. The Mets’ win also prevented the Phillies from clinching a postseason bid.

 

Santander Walk-off Rekindles Orioles Magic

 

It was getting pretty desperate for the Orioles. A team that led the AL East just two weeks ago now has only a slim chance of winning the division thanks to a 2-8 stretch. Even the TV announcers during Thursday’s game asked for help from a higher power. Maybe that triggered something because the Orioles, despite blowing a lead in the top of the ninth, won 5-3 over the San Francisco Giants thanks to Anthony Santander’s two-run walk-off homer to right field. It reduced the Orioles’ magic number for clinching a postseason berth to five. Baltimore holds the No. 1 AL wild-card position. They have a three-game edge over the Kansas City Royals for that spot and trail the AL East-leading New York Yankees by four games. Santander now has 42 homers, tied for sixth-most in a season by a switch-hitter. Santander’s heroics were necessary after the Giants scored in the top of the ninth on Casey Schmitt’s drive to right-center that caused a collision between Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins and right fielder Austin Slater. Mullens seemed to take the brunt of the hit, but he stayed in the game after being examined by a trainer. The walk-off was doubly painful for the Giants, who were officially eliminated from postseason contention.

 

Best Moments From Yesterday

 

Having A Blast

 

Atlanta’s reign as six-time defending NL East champion is virtually over, but that doesn’t mean the team won’t be a threat in October — if it makes it there. Atlanta’s offense can flat out produce, which was on full display in the series finale against the Cincinnati Reds. Ramón Laureano, Matt Olson, Jorge Soler, and Michael Harris II each hit three-run home runs in a 15-3 win, becoming the first team to hit four three-run bombs in a single game.

 

Vladdy Reaches 30

 

Things have not gone well for the Toronto Blue Jays this season. But one thing is certain: It isn’t Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s fault. The slugging first baseman drilled two homers to reach 30 for the season in the Jays’ 4-0 victory over the Texas Rangers. Vladito has reached 30 homers in three of the last four seasons and also has 99 RBIs in 2024. He has surpassed 100 RBIs just once, with 111 in 2021, and had at least 94 each of the last four seasons. Guerrero is 25 years old.

 

Counsell Gives Kudos To Crew

 

After leaving the Brewers following last season to be a savior for the Chicago Cubs, Craig Counsell’s first year as a manager in the Windy City has not gone as planned. So when asked about his former team clinching the NL Central title the day before, Counsell put things matter-of-factly.

 

Injuries and Other Moves

 

⚾ Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back tightness) missed his fourth consecutive game.

⚾ Atlanta second baseman Ozzie Albies (broken right wrist) is expected to be activated from the 60-day IL Friday and be in the lineup. Albies, a switch-hitter, would only bat from the right side.

⚾ Toronto Blue Jays right-handed start Kevin Gausman left his start after no-hit five innings with lower back tightness.

⚾ Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette’s lost season came to an end as he was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured right middle finger. Bichette played in just one game after returning from a two-month absence due to a calf injury. He broke the finger in pregame warmups Wednesday when a ball hopped up and hit him on the tip of the finger.

⚾ Journeyman utility player Charlie Culberson announced his retirement. The 35-year-old last played in the majors in 2023 with Atlanta, seeing action in one game. He tried to latch on with Atlanta as a pitcher in spring training, but that experiment failed and he did not sign with anyone this season.

 

Articles You Should Read

 

Owner who “thinks he knows everything” spirals White Sox— Britt Ghiroli and Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic

History doesn’t lie: Oakland fans were always more fun — Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle

Saying the loud part silent — Matthew Trueblood, Baseball Prospectus

 

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Steve Drumwright

Steve Drumwright is a lifelong baseball fan who retired as a player before he had the chance to be cut from the freshman team in high school. He recovered to become a sportswriter and have a successful journalism career at newspapers in Wisconsin and California. Follow him on Twitter and Threads @DrummerWrites.

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