Paul Skenes Blows Away Shohei Ohtani With Three Straight 100-mph Fastballs

June 5, 2024 Jimm Sallivan

Opposing pitchers don’t get the best of Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani too often. But Pittsburgh Pirates rookie phenom Paul Skenes did just that on three pitches Wednesday night.

Skenes didn’t mess around, either. He piped three straight fastballs inside the strike zone at 101.3 mph, 100.1 mph and 100.8 mph. Ohtani swung at all three pitches, fouling off one of them, but quickly headed back into the dugout after striking out.

1,2,3. pic.twitter.com/eEiIluenCo

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 5, 2024

Ohtani got his revenge in the top of the third inning, however. On a 3–2 pitch, Ohtani smacked a 100.1-mph fastball from Skenes 415 feet into the Dodgers’ bullpen in center field for a two-run homer.

The two-way superstar swung and missed at the first five Skenes fastballs he saw before launching his 15th home run of the season on the sixth.

Round two goes to Shohei Ohtani 😳 pic.twitter.com/PeNvdak1ep

— MLB (@MLB) June 5, 2024

Skenes is making his fifth career start Wednesday night at PNC Park. Over his first four outings, Skenes logged a 2–0 record, 2.45 ERA and 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

7 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw is Just Like Everyone Else Watching Shohei Ohtani

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw is just like every other MLB fan: He's sometimes befuddled by Shohei Ohtani's greatness.

Kershaw, on the 60-day injured list as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery he underwent in November of 2023, has had a front-row seat to watch Ohtani in his first season in Los Angeles. And the two-time American League MVP hasn't disappointed, as he is swinging a hot stick lately, having belted four home runs in his last three games for the Dodgers (24-13).

Kershaw raved about Ohtani on Monday night in an in-game interview with Dodgers broadcasters Joe Davis and Orel Hershiser on Spectrum Sportsnet LA during the team's 6-3 win over the Miami Marlins on Monday, saying that the Japanese slugger's recent hot streak has been "unbelievable."

Clayton Kershaw in awe of Shohei Ohtani. pic.twitter.com/NqTuM7uLhr
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 7, 2024

"I don't remember him even being this good in Anaheim," Kershaw said, shaking his head. "I don't remember him ever being on this kind of tear. This is unbelievable. Every ball that he hits, he's just so strong. I don't get it. I don't think anybody does. He's just amazing."

We don't get it either, Mr. Kershaw.

Ohtani, 29, is the early frontrunner for the National League MVP, as he currently leads MLB in batting average, hits, home runs and OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging Percentage). In April, he broke the record for the most career home runs hit by a Japanese-born player.

Beyond the numbers, Ohtani's feats of strength have been of the usual, jaw-dropping variety. He smashed a heat-seeking missile of a single, the hardest-hit ball of the 2024 season, in an April 27 game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Ohtani crushed the second-longest home run of the 2024 season, a 464-foot blast into the center field bleachers of Dodger Stadium, on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves.

But the fact that Kershaw, an all-time great pitcher ticketed for Cooperstown, can't comprehend Ohtani's greatness tells you all you need to know about just how good he really is.

1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Diamondbacks Beekeeper Hero Got His Own Official Topps Trading Card

A swarm of bees at Chase Field delayed the Tuesday night tilt between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks for nearly two hours before the prayers of fans were answered by none other than Matt Hilton, a local beekeeper.

Hilton arrived on the scene and was successful in his removal of the swarm, which resulted in him getting the awesome opportunity to throw out the game's ceremonial first pitch.

That's not the only way Hilton was honored, however.

On Wednesday, the trading card company Topps unveiled an epic new baseball card, a 2024 Matt Hilton Topps Now Card, No. 145. Topps put the card on sale for 24 hours, pricing it at a reasonable $8.99 as a memento for fans who wanted to celebrate the viral beekeeper's heroics.

🐝 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡: We’ve signed a deal with Matt Hilton (the Bee Specialist from last night’s game) and we’re making autograph cards from his all-time great performance. pic.twitter.com/uftVYAbjkw
— Topps (@Topps) May 1, 2024

The card features a photo from Hilton after he transported the bees off the field on Tuesday, with his arms raised in the air while still wearing his beekeeping gear.

"Bee afraid, bee very afraid: Bees swarm in Arizona" is written on the bottom of the card.

In addition to the regular print of the Hilton card, Topps has also released special autographed editions, including a gold version of which only one was printed.

Fans at the stadium were greatly appreciative of Hilton's services on Tuesday night, and now the once in a lifetime experience has been immortalized by the trading card company in unique fashion.

5 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Andrew McCutchen Mocks Aroldis Chapman for Dramatic Overreaction on Mound

Pittsburgh Pirates closer Aroldis Chapman helped close the door on the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, earning a hold after throwing a scoreless eighth inning during the 1–0 win at PNC Park.

At one point, however, Chapman seemed to think that he'd served up a lead-changing three-run home run to Teoscar Hernández. After the Dodgers outfielder lifted a ball to deep center field, Chapman could be seen spiking his glove in frustration, clearly under the impression that the ball was going to leave the park.

Instead, center fielder Jack Suwinski made a routine catch just shy of the warning track for the second out of the inning. Chapman then struck out Andy Pages to end the inning, but his rage-induced antics on the mound didn't go unnoticed by some of his teammates.

Aroldis Chapman thought it was GONE 😭
(h/t @TalkinBaseball_)pic.twitter.com/K8DIxj0LIA
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) June 5, 2024

Perhaps a slight overreaction from the hard-throwing southpaw, who clearly thought he'd surrendered his fifth home run of the season and blown the lead in the eighth inning.

Andrew McCutchen couldn't help but mock Chapman over the ordeal, and he could be seen in the home dugout mimicking the spike with his own mitt while laughing with his teammate.

McCutchen mocking Chapman LMAO pic.twitter.com/TlefkvBCyb
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 5, 2024

Ultimately, no harm was done from the bat of Hernández on that occasion, though Chapman's teammates may not let him forget about his reaction anytime soon.

US Sports News

Paul Skenes Blows Away Shohei Ohtani With Three Straight 100-mph Fastballs

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