Shohei Ohtani’s aggressive baserunning backfired Sunday, and the Los Angeles Dodgers paid the price.
Ohtani was thrown out trying to steal third base to end the sixth inning of a 5-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. The play came after Ohtani reached on a one-out single off reliever Seranthony Domínguez, then stole second with two outs before attempting third. Tyler Heineman’s accurate throw beat Ohtani and ended the scoring threat with Freddie Freeman due up. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called the play “not a good baseball play” and said the decision was Ohtani’s.
The Blue Jays rallied late, scoring twice in the eighth and once in the ninth to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 5-4 victory. Los Angeles left a season-high 16 runners on base and went just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position, squandering multiple opportunities despite a strong offensive output. Every Dodger starter reached base at least once, and the club still recorded at least 10 hits and 10 walks — a combination the team hadn’t lost with since 1982, according to AM 570 LA Sports radio’s David Vassegh.
Ohtani finished 2-for-4 with his 41st home run and reached base four times. He continues to be the team’s engine, slashing .284/.388/.620 for a 1.008 OPS (second in MLB), with 77 RBI, 17 stolen bases and a major-league-leading 111 runs scored. He has also contributed on the mound this season, posting a 2.37 ERA in eight abbreviated starts (19.0 innings) while striking out 25 and walking five as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. Oddsmakers still list him as the heavy favorite for a third straight MVP.
The loss dropped the Dodgers to 68-50 overall and 10-11 since the All-Star break, narrowing their National League West lead to two games over the San Diego Padres, who have gone 14-8 in that span. Los Angeles travels to Anaheim to open a three-game series with the Angels on Monday.
Commentary and context
– The decision to go for third with two outs is tactically risky: if successful, it puts a runner 90 feet from scoring with a plate appearance by Freeman; if not, it kills the inning. Roberts’ frustration reflects the fine margins in late-game situations.
– The Dodgers’ offensive profile in this game — lots of baserunners but few timely hits — suggests the team needs to improve situational hitting and execution with runners in scoring position rather than rely on quantity of baserunners alone.
– Ohtani’s overall season performance remains elite. His combined value as a hitter and pitcher keeps the Dodgers competitive even when close games slip away.
Short summary
Shohei Ohtani was thrown out trying to steal third to end the sixth inning, halting a Dodger rally in a 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays. Despite strong individual numbers and plenty of baserunners, Los Angeles stranded 16 men, went 1-for-10 with RISP, and saw its division lead shrink to two games.
Hopeful angle
The Dodgers showed they can generate offense against quality pitching and are still atop the NL West. With Ohtani performing at an MVP-caliber level and the roster consistently reaching base, small fixes in situational hitting and late-game decision-making could quickly turn close losses into wins as the season progresses.