LOS ANGELES — Donâ€t expect the Cincinnati Reds to pitch around Shohei Ohtani in Game 2 of their wild-card series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Manager Terry Francona has too much respect for the former league MVPs who bat second and third in the Dodgers†lineup.
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Asked before Wednesday’s game if heâ€d consider intentionally walking Ohtani, Francona scoffed and said, “Youâ€re kidding, right? Have you heard of Mookie Betts or Freddie Freeman?â€
Francona described Ohtani as “a really dangerous hitter†but also pointed out that the two-way star struck out 187 times during the regular season, third-most in the National League.
“Thatâ€s where we have to get to,†Francona said. “You start walking people in that lineup, and youâ€re asking for trouble.â€
The Reds attacked Ohtani in their 10-5 Game 1 loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday — and while the superstar struck out three times, he also made them pay with a pair of home runs.
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He opened the bottom of the first inning by turning on a 100-mph inside fastball from Reds fireballer Hunter Greene and rocketing a screaming line drive over the right-field wall. Then in the sixth inning, with chants of M-V-P raining down from the upper deck, Ohtani blasted a 454-foot moon shot high into the right-center-field bleachers.
Ohtani piled up 55 home runs and 102 RBI during another MVP-caliber regular season, but even so, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts raved Tuesday about Ohtaniâ€s ability to raise his level in the postseason.
“His focus gets more keen, and the at-bat quality is better,†Roberts said. “Thatâ€s a reason why he signed to be with this ball club, this organization, to play in games like this, to showcase his otherworldly talent. I expect really fun things this postseason out of Shohei.â€
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Before the wild-card series began, Francona also spoke glowingly of Ohtani, calling him a “generational player.â€
“You don’t want to let him get those arms extended,†he said Monday. “You make a mistake, and it goes a long way, a long way.â€
But as much respect as Francona has for Ohtani, he wonâ€t give the Dodgers’ slugger the Barry Bonds treatment.
Said Francona on Wednesday: “I think it would be a very poor decision.â€
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