Two-Way Shohei Night Turns Into a Wild Ride in Pittsburgh — I Was Screaming

Man, today was an emotional rollercoaster...

Today was the day I'd been waiting for — Ohtani on the mound. The beer goes down way too fast on two-way days, I tell ya.

Let me start with Ohtani the pitcher. Topped out at 101mph(!), faced 29 batters, struck out 6. He was firing absolute darts from the first inning, and I was sitting in front of the TV going "Ohtani-san is LOCKED IN today~". Yeah, he gave up a monster 427-foot homer to Callihan in the bottom of the 4th (107.3mph off the bat — honestly, you just gotta tip your cap on that one), but that was the only long ball he allowed. Facing 29 batters with that kind of stuff? That's more than enough from your starter. Way more.

And the lineup backed him up too! Top of the 4th, Muncy ripped a 99.7mph liner down the right field line for an RBI double, then Tucker fought one through up the middle to make it 2-0. In the 6th, Ward crushed a 385-foot shot down the right field line and it was 6-1! At that point I was POSITIVE we had this one in the bag — I'd already cracked open beer number two...

And then the bottom of the 8th happened

I had a bad feeling after they clawed back to 6-4 in the 7th on Lowe's double and an error. Then the bottom of the 8th: Callihan goes deep AGAIN — his second of the night — and then Horwitz launches one 402 feet to right-center. Next thing I know it's 6-7. Are you KIDDING me... I just froze there gripping the remote.

But then — Shohei in the 9th!!

Ohtani the hitter was 0-for-4 on the day. That fly ball to the left field line in the 3rd — 101.7mph, 383 feet — had me halfway out of my seat going "IS THAT GONE!?" But then in the 9th, first pitch, he lets it RIP — 412 feet to left-center!! 103.9mph off the bat! I let out a "WOOOOO THERE IT GOES!!!" loud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear. That made it 8-9, a one-run game. Fifth plate appearance of the night AFTER throwing all those innings on the mound, and he does THAT. Seriously, what even IS that guy?

In the end we fell short, 8-9. Frustrating! So frustrating! But hey — I got to watch Ohtani go full two-way, and I got to see him refuse to quit right down to that final blast, so I'm not gonna complain. Bullpen just needs to get us one back tomorrow. That's all I ask.

We'll get 'em next time. See ya tomorrow, folks!

— Ken-chan