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Shohei Ohtani went yard in a game against Colorado on Tuesday night, helping lead a comeback Dodgers in Coors Field. The 476-foot blast was the longest home run in the MLB this season.
Trailing 7-2 at the time of that blast, it sparked a come-from-behind effort as Los Angeles prevailed 11-9 against a division rival.
The moonshot might’ve been aided a bit by that thin Denver air, but there’s no doubt it was an absolute bomb – no matter the location.
The homer came in the top of the sixth inning with LA down by five runs. Facing Colorado lefty Austin Gomber with a 2-0 count and nobody on, Ohtani awaited his pitch and locked in when he saw the 84 MPH delivery.
He quickly turned on the off-speed pitch and sent it sailing to the deepest part of the ballpark.
476 feet from Shohei. pic.twitter.com/0wXOR7Czyf
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 19, 2024
After the game, Gomber could do nothing but praise his opponent.
“I thought I pitched him well the first two at-bats… He’s the best player on the planet and I just made a mistake slider down the middle. You’re not gonna get those past him.”
Though he’d like to have the mistake back, Gomber pitched well enough to win. The starter exited the game with his team up 8-4 in the seventh frame.
Unfortunately, the bullpen would let that victory slip away.
Shohei Ohtani and Dodgers scored 7 runs in the top of the ninth, though the Rockies believe the last 3 runs shouldn’t have crossed the plate.
Los Angeles loaded the bases with one out in their final at-bat before Jason Heyward blasted a pinch-hit grand slam to cut a 9-4 deficit to just a run.
The Dodgers would later get another pair on while Colorado put one more away to give Teoscar Hernandez a chance to tie or win with two outs.
The Rockies believed they’d secured the final out of the ball game when Hernandez unsuccessfully attempted to check his swing. Umpires ruled that he didn’t cross the plane, but replay showed that he did!
Having new life, the slugger belted a three-run homer on the very next pitch to give his team the lead.
Absolutely bonkers minute of action at Coors.
The Rockies thought they won on a strikeout, Lance Barksdale says Teoscar Hernández checked his swing, Bud Black gets run, Teo hits a go-ahead ding dong on the next pitch, Jake Cave displeased. pic.twitter.com/RB2hIF28Fh
— Rowan Kavner (@RowanKavner) June 19, 2024
The Colorado bench exploded after the bomb, claiming they’d been stripped of a win. Los Angeles would record the final three outs in the bottom of the ninth to escape with a two-run victory.
Were the Rockies robbed? There’s certainly a case to be made!
Still, the bullpen deserves some blame for the three walks and three hits allowed prior to that dagger. Either way, it’s a tough way to lose.