Ohtani makes history with 1,000th career hit, home run No. 39 and dominates on the mound

LOS ANGELES — On Wednesday afternoon, the Los Angeles Dodgers watched their 3-2 lead slip away in the eighth inning as their bullpen faltered once again in a 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium.

It was a day that only Shohei Ohtani could deliver. In what was an electrifying performance, the two-way superstar blasted a monster shot to left-center field, a two-run homer that not only extended the Dodgers' lead but also secured a massive milestone in his illustrious career. That swing of the bat marked Ohtani's 1,000th career hit — a number few players ever reach, but one that is just another feather in the cap of the most unique player the game has ever seen. To cap it off, it was his 39th home run of the season, keeping his MVP-caliber year rolling with no signs of slowing down.

But as Ohtani's bat shined, so too did his arm. On the mound, Ohtani was nearly untouchable, tossing one of the more dominant 4-inning outings I've ever seen. He was efficient, mixing his pitches with ease, and maintaining pinpoint control. In just 54 pitches, Ohtani allowed only two hits, no walks, and struck out a remarkable eight batters. His lone blemish? A single in the third inning — but it wasn’t a typical base hit. Jordan Walker hit a sky-high fly ball that Miguel Rojas, standing under it in the infield, couldn't track down due to the brutal sunlight. The result? Walker reached second, and later came around to score on a bunt single from Brendan Donovan that found the hole at third, a play Ohtani couldn’t quite convert on.

That lone earned run — the result of a sun-aided single and a perfectly placed bunt—did little to tarnish what was a near-flawless outing. With an ERA of 2.37 through eight starts this season, he’s making it look easy, even when nothing is.

"Would have been a huge win for us if we were able to flip the script," Ohtani said.

Since RBI became official in 1920, Ohtani is the only MLB player to hit a home run, strike out eight batters, drive in more runs (2) than allowed (1), and draw more walks (1) than he allowed (0). There's more; it was also the third time Ohtani has homered and struck out eight batters in the game, but the first time in a Dodger uniform.

But the night wasn’t all about Ohtani. The Dodgers, ever creative in their approach to offense, scored in a unique and somewhat comical fashion in the second inning. Andy Pages took off for third on a steal attempt, and in a bizarre twist of fate, Cardinals catcher Pedro Pages’s throw hit the bat of Miguel Rojas, who, of course, wasn't expecting such an errant throw. The ball caromed away, allowing Pages to trot home for an easy run. It's a play you rarely see at any level of baseball, but for the Dodgers this season, it’s just another quirky moment in a year that has been filled with them.

With Ohtani in full form, the Dodgers continue to show that they can win in a variety of ways. Whether it's with his bat, his arm, or even a little bit of luck, this team has the resilience and talent to come at you from every angle. As for Ohtani, he remains a man of milestones — 1,000 career hits, 39 home runs on the year, and an ERA that many pitchers would kill for.

Entering the eighth inning with a one-run lead, the Dodgers seemed poised to hold onto the advantage. But Alex Vesia, who had been reliable for much of the season, couldn’t keep things in check. His fastball, which has been a key weapon for him, failed to generate the usual swing-and-miss stuff. With one out, rookie sensation Jordan Walker made Vesia pay, lacing a sharp single to center field to tie the game.

The inning would continue to unravel when Alex Freeland attempted to throw out Walker at second, but his throw sailed wide of second base. The Cardinals capitalized immediately, as the Dodgers' bullpen allowed 10 hits and three runs in the game, couldn’t recover, and St. Louis took control of the game.

In the ninth inning, newly acquired Brock Stewart entered the game, hoping to keep the deficit at one. Unfortunately, Stewart gave up an additional run, surrendering two hits, including a double by Lars Nootbaar to center that brought in Brendan Donovan to make it 5-3.

For the Dodgers, it was another missed opportunity, and one that will sting heading into a much-anticipated weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The bullpen’s struggles were evident, but the offense also couldn’t deliver the knockout blow when they had the chance. Though Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman combined for four of the Dodgers’ eight hits, the team left six runners on base, unable to capitalize in crucial moments.

In a game defined by missed opportunities and shaky pitching, the Dodgers are now left to regroup ahead of Thursday’s off day. On Friday, they will face the Blue Jays with a marquee pitching matchup — Max Scherzer (2-1, 4.39 ERA) taking on Clayton Kershaw (5-2, 3.29 ERA). The Dodgers will hope that the ace-like performances from both starters can help steady the ship before they get back on track.

The next game is set to coincide with Kobe Bryant bobblehead night, an event that is sure to bring extra energy to Dodger Stadium, but the Dodgers will need to bring their A-game to bounce back from the loss. As for Wednesday’s game, it served as a harsh reminder that in baseball, a single inning or one bad throw can be the difference between a win and a loss.