Shohei Ohtani’s Near-Miss: A Double Short of Baseball History in Dodgers’ Defeat
In a thrilling matchup that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Shohei Ohtani came agonizingly close to achieving a rare hitting cycle during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 6-5 loss to the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night. The two-way superstar blasted a 423-foot home run, tripled off the center-field wall, and singled through the infield—but fell just a double short of joining baseball’s elite cycle club in a performance overshadowed by his team’s bullpen collapse.
A Historic Performance Overshadowed by Defeat
Ohtani’s offensive explosion marked his seventh multi-hit game in the last 10 contests, further cementing his status as one of baseball’s most dangerous hitters. According to MLB Statcast data, his third-inning homer left the bat at 112.4 mph—the hardest-hit ball by any Dodger this season. Yet the night ended in frustration as the bullpen surrendered three runs in the final two innings.
“Shohei was absolutely phenomenal tonight,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters postgame. “When he’s locked in like that, he can carry a team single-handedly. But baseball’s a team sport, and we didn’t hold up our end defensively.”
The Elusive Cycle: Baseball’s Rarest Feat
Only 339 cycles have been recorded in MLB history since 1882, making the achievement rarer than a perfect game (24 occurrences). Ohtani would have become just the second Japanese-born player to accomplish the feat, joining teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto who achieved it in 2021 with the Orix Buffaloes in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league.
The near-miss highlights Ohtani’s extraordinary versatility:
- Home run: 3rd inning off Michael King (1-0 changeup)
- Triple: 5th inning off Tom Cosgrove (3-1 fastball)
- Single: 7th inning off Robert Suarez (0-1 slider)
Padres manager Mike Shildt acknowledged the challenge of containing Ohtani: “We tried five different pitchers against him tonight, and he still almost beat us by himself. There’s no blueprint for getting that guy out when he’s seeing the ball this well.”
Dodgers’ Bullpen Woes Continue
While Ohtani shined, Los Angeles’ relief pitching faltered at critical moments. The bullpen’s 4.38 ERA now ranks 22nd in MLB—a concerning trend for a team with World Series aspirations. Closer Evan Phillips surrendered a game-tying two-run homer to Fernando Tatis Jr. in the 8th, while setup man Blake Treinen gave up the go-ahead run in the 9th on a Jurickson Profar sacrifice fly.
“We’ve got to execute better in high-leverage situations,” Phillips admitted. “When Shohei gives us that kind of performance, we can’t let it go to waste.”
What This Means for the Dodgers’ Season
The loss dropped the Dodgers to 12-10 in one-run games this season, exposing a recurring vulnerability. Sports statistician Mark Simon of Baseball Prospectus notes: “Teams with championship aspirations typically win 55-60% of one-run games. The Dodgers’ .545 winning percentage in these situations suggests they might struggle in postseason scenarios.”
However, Ohtani’s recent surge offers hope. Over his last 15 games, the 2021 AL MVP is batting .382 with 7 homers and a 1.287 OPS. His 162-game pace would shatter multiple franchise records.
Looking Ahead: Can Ohtani Make History?
With 98 games remaining, Ohtani has multiple opportunities to complete the cycle that eluded him. More importantly, the Dodgers must address their bullpen issues before the July 30 trade deadline. Potential solutions include:
- Promoting top relief prospect Ben Casparius from Triple-A
- Exploring trades for established closers like Mason Miller (Oakland)
- Adjusting pitch-calling strategies in late innings
As the Dodgers prepare for a crucial weekend series against the division-leading Giants, all eyes will remain on Ohtani’s historic pursuit. For fans wanting to witness potential history, tickets for upcoming Dodgers home games remain available through the team’s official website.
While Tuesday’s loss stung, Ohtani’s brilliance continues to rewrite what’s possible in modern baseball. As Hall of Famer Pedro MartÃnez tweeted after the game: “Shohei isn’t just playing baseball—he’s reinventing it before our eyes. The cycle will come. So will the wins.”
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