Two-Way Shohei Pours His Heart Into This One

Man, my stomach was already in knots from the jump. Sheets rips a line-drive single in the top of the 1st and they're up early, and I'm sitting there like 'oh great' cracking open a beer, but Shohei never let it rattle him. Today Shohei was straight-up nasty on the mound. Topping out at 101 mph while sitting 93 on average, painting corners all night, punching out 9 of the 27 guys he faced — that's borderline unfair. When Merrill took him deep in the 4th I was like 'you gotta be kidding me,' but he just kept grinding and grinding, held it to 7 hits and 2 walks. There's just a different kind of tension on two-way days compared to when Yoshinobu or Roki are on the bump.

At the plate though, Shohei was a little off tonight. Bottom of the 1st he got fooled by a changeup and rolled over a 90.3 mph grounder — hey, it happens. Bottom of the 4th he absolutely smoked one, I screamed 'THAT'S GONE!' the second he made contact — 100.3 mph, 38 degrees, 342 feet — and it just dies right into a fielder's glove for a flyout. Baseball, man, I'll never understand it. Bottom of the 6th, another 337-foot fly ball to right-center. The contact was quality all night though, so I know he's gonna come through next game. I told the TV, 'Get 'em next time, Shohei!'

Then Bogaerts doubles in another run and it's 0-3, and honestly I was starting to think 'yeah, this one might get away from us...' but in the bottom of the 7th T. Hernandez absolutely CRUSHES one to left-center — 106.6 mph off the bat, 419 feet — and just like that it's 4-3! I was off the couch screaming. That one swing completely flipped the momentum. Final score 4-3, Dodgers win. Shohei grinds through his own start and then the lineup answers the call late — this is exactly the kind of game that makes it all worth it. Already got the beer ready for tomorrow.