Shohei Ohtani was dissatisfied with the 91st pitch, which slipped into the red zone, and left the game while hitting his head in frustration; the reason has now been revealed.

Japanese star Shohei Ohtani started yesterday’s game, pitching a solid six innings with quality performance, but his final pitch was a misplaced slider into the red zone. Fortunately, it did not result in a hit or runs. After the game, Ohtani self-reflected, saying, "I believe I could have struck him out at that moment."

Ohtani threw 91 pitches in this away game, diligently completing six innings without allowing a run, including eight strikeouts. In the sixth inning, the Diamondbacks’ batter hit two singles in the same frame, creating a situation with two outs and runners on first and second. Ohtani battled through six consecutive pitches, choosing an 89.8 mph slider for the final one, which unexpectedly caught the strike zone in the red area. Luckily, it resulted only in a hard lineout. As he left the mound, Ohtani muttered to himself and tapped his head. After the game, he said, "In fact, pitch quality matters more than control. I shouldn’t have thrown that last pitch like that. It was a critical moment, and I believed I could have struck the batter out. Fortunately, he was out in the end, but this is something I need to reflect on."

The Dodgers will start the playoffs from the Wild Card series. Facing his first postseason as a pitcher, Ohtani said he will follow the team’s plan. He stated, "I think there are strategic considerations in the playoffs, so I don’t have much to say. If I am asked to pitch, I will be ready. That’s my job, and I want to be fully prepared to handle any situation."

Regarding the game ending with the relief pitchers struggling, Ohtani believes it shouldn’t be overly blamed. He pointed out that the Dodgers’ strong bullpen helped secure many wins during the first half of the season. Additionally, he noted that the Dodgers’ lineup has been consistent lately, and the improved scoring ability gives the team an advantage.