The Los Angeles Dodgers needed just one swing and a whole lot of fastball to beat the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, and Shohei Ohtani couldn’t have timed it better — for his team or his bedtime.
Ohtani launched a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, the only scoring in a taut 1-0 pitchers’ duel that wrapped up in under two hours. Afterward, when a reporter asked the Japanese superstar about the benefit of a quick win — especially given manager Dave Roberts’ pregame revelation that Ohtani aims for 10 hours of sleep per night — he cracked a grin that said it all.
“It’s nice to have a quick game, and a quick win too,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. Then he added, with a nod to the bigger picture: “There are days when other guys pick me up, or pick other people up, so it’s really like when everybody does their job, then things go well.”
That last part might be the more revealing quote. On a night when the Dodgers’ offense was otherwise silent, Ohtani did his job. And his teammates — Justin Wrobleski, Will Klein, Kyle Hurt, and closer Tanner Scott — did theirs.
Wrobleski and Rasmussen Trade Zeroes Before Ohtani Breaks Through
For nearly six innings, Dodgers rookie lefty Justin Wrobleski and Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen traded empty frames in front of a restless Dodger Stadium crowd. The Rays, fighting to keep pace with the New York Yankees in the AL East, looked poised to steal a road win against the team with the National League’s best record.
Then Rasmussen made a mistake: a cutter over the heart of the plate to Ohtani leading off the bottom of the sixth. Ohtani didn’t miss, sending it over the center-field wall for his 15th homer of the season. That was it. That was the game.
Wrobleski’s night ended after six scoreless innings of three-hit ball. Klein and Hurt bridged the gap to the ninth, where Scott slammed the door for the save. The win clinched the series for Los Angeles with the finale set for Wednesday night.
Why a Quick Win Matters More Than You Think
Beyond the standings, Tuesday’s brisk pace carried real weight. Ohtani is scheduled to pitch the series finale — his second start since returning from a minor arm issue. A 99-minute game means he got back to the clubhouse, did his recovery work, and likely hit the pillow earlier than usual.
Roberts had mentioned before the game that Ohtani puts a premium on sleep, often targeting that 10-hour mark. For a player who both hits and pitches at an MVP level, rest isn’t a luxury — it’s a performance enhancer.
Now the Dodgers send their two-way ace to the mound with a chance at a sweep, while the Rays are left wondering how they wasted a gem from Rasmussen. If Ohtani sleeps well, Tampa Bay might not.
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