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DENVER — Shohei Ohtani continues to re-write the record book among his countrymen.
With his 57th stolen base of the season in the second inning of the Dodgers’ 11-4 win over the Rockies on Friday night at Coors Field, Ohtani surpassed Ichiro Suzuki for the most stolen bases in a single season by a Japanese-born player. Ichiro set the previous mark of 56 in his rookie season in 2001.
“He is somebody I admire and look up to,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton after matching Ichiro earlier this week.
Los Angeles (96-64) also moved closer to earning the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage through the World Series as Philadelphia (94-66) lost to Washington. The Dodgers need just one more win or one Phillies loss to clinch home-field advantage. Philadelphia holds the tiebreaker over Los Angeles.
“Makes it look easy, huh?” utility man Chris Taylor said of Ohtani. “He’s been in a zone. It’s been fun to watch. I think we’re all just in awe watching him continue his historic season.”
In what has turned into the best offensive season of his career, Ohtani has set quite a few records among Japanese-born players. He passed manager Dave Roberts for the most homers and stolen bases recorded in a single season by a Japanese player in franchise history.
Ohtani also passed his childhood idol, Hideki Matsui, for most career homers by a Japanese-born player. The two-way Japanese superstar is still only entering his peak seasons. By the end of his career, Ohtani might claim just about every record by Japanese-born players.
As he continues to break records, Ohtani also has his sights set on a potential Triple Crown. After hammering his 54th homer of the season on Friday and getting his RBI count to 130, Ohtani will finish atop the NL in both of those categories.
Arraez, who came into Friday’s games with a .312 average, now stands at .314 after going 3-for-5 in the Padres’ win over the D-backs. Ohtani, on the other hand, was at .305. But after a 4-for-5 night, Ohtani’s batting average is now .309, putting him within striking distance with two games left in the regular season.
“Shohei, man, he put on a show tonight,” Roberts said. “Even looking up there tonight, he’s closing in on 200 hits. Anything that’s attainable, I think is on his radar.”
Roberts added that Ohtani will be in the Dodgers’ lineup all three games against the Rockies, giving the two-way superstar every opportunity to continue to add to his historic offensive season.
“He’s had a tremendous season,” Roberts said. “When you get to the one-yard line on certain statistics, whether it’s a potential Triple Crown, a 60-60, whatever it might be, stealing 60 bases, you want to try to get there as best you can.”