■MLB Rockies 1-2 Dodgers (30th Japan time Coors Field, Denver, Colorado)
Shohei Ohtani (30) of the Dodgers played in the final game of the season against the Rockies in enemy territory as the No. 1 DH, and had one hit and one stolen base in four at-bats, with a batting average of .310. For Ohtani, the 2024 season ended with a score of 54-59. L. Arraez (27) of the Padres did not reach the lead in batters, but he is almost certain to win the double crown for home runs and RBIs. He became the 26th major leaguer and the first DH to hit the triple three with .300, 30 home runs, and 30 stolen bases. He is the third Dodger to do so since M. Kemp in 2011.
After the match, Otani said, “There were various records, but the best part for me was being able to perform consistently for one year.The same goes for the people who took care of me and supported me. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who supported me this season.”
Regarding the battle for the leadoff batter in the final game of the season, where he was expected to win the Triple Crown, he said, “I didn’t really think about it.I don’t really understand how big of a difference there is, so I just want to have a good at-bat.” “That’s what I was thinking,” he said, approaching the match with the same mindset as always, without worrying about numbers.
Looking ahead to his first postseason in his seventh year in the majors, he said, “From now on, the grades and numbers I’ve accumulated over the course of the season are meaningless. I want to spend those days without running out of time,” he said with enthusiasm.
In the end, he expressed his gratitude to his wife Mamiko and his dog Dekopin, who have supported the season, saying, “Of course, I have more time to think about things other than baseball than being alone. I think it helped me focus on baseball, and I’m grateful for that.”
Source: Japanese