In the unpredictable realm of baseball, anything can transpire in a single regular-season clash. However, the Los Angeles dodgers vs rockies showcased a stark disparity in talent during their resounding 11-4 triumph over the Rockies. Impressively, this achievement unfolded without the contributions of any of their ace pitchers, further highlighting the exceptional performance of Shohei Ohtani.
Unencumbered by pressure, the Dodgers—having already secured their status as the NL West champions once again—stormed into Coors Field with an audacious and spirited lineup, albeit slightly diminished.
Cal Quantrill experienced a rollercoaster beginning to his outing, initially felling both Ohtani and Mookie Betts in the opening frame. Yet, the evening swiftly deteriorated for him. By the end of the second inning, Los Angeles had already amassed five runs.
Teoscar Hernández ignited the scoring with a fierce at-bat, fouling off four pitches before launching a 3-2 curveball deep into left field for a towering 445-foot home run—his 32nd of the season. This figure is particularly noteworthy, as it equals Hernández’s career-high established in 2021 while he was with the Blue Jays.
A mere inning later, it was Ohtani’s turn to shine. He notched an RBI single and collaborated in a daring double steal, with Chris Taylor swiping home plate. With that, Ohtani elevated his stolen base total to 57, a commendable feat that keeps him in close pursuit of Elly De La Cruz. Though time may be running out, had he had a few more weeks, Ohtani could have realistically challenged the Reds’ shortstop for the title of baseball’s premier base stealer. De La Cruz currently boasts 65 stolen bases, just eight ahead of Ohtani.
But Ohtani was not content to stop there. In the sixth inning, with runners positioned at second and third, he unleashed a titanic home run, marking his 54th of the season. As if to underscore his prowess, he followed that up with a double in the eighth inning, bringing him tantalizingly close—just two doubles away—from achieving a rare 40-40-40 season (40 doubles, home runs, and stolen bases). Only Alfonso Soriano has previously reached that milestone in the annals of baseball history.
Amid the fireworks of scoring, a lesser-known hero emerged—Ben Casparius, a rookie making only his third appearance this season. Originally projected to be a bullpen game, his stellar performance reshaped the evening, as he logged 4.1 innings of two-run ball, striking out seven batters and more than doubling his career total of innings pitched.
While his statistics may not scream “all-star,” and he may not have pitched himself into a postseason role, Casparius effectively stymied the Rockies, ensuring that the game never drew close enough to necessitate the use of the Dodgers’ high-leverage relievers. He also secured his second victory in just three major league appearances, a commendable start to his career.
