Shohei Ohtani was pulled after pitching only 2.1 innings and giving up three runs, while Bichette’s three-run homer severely hurt the Dodgers.

In Game 7 of the World Series deciding the championship, Shohei Ohtani started on only three days’ rest but lasted just 2.1 innings before being removed after giving up a three-run homer. He threw 51 pitches, allowed 5 hits, gave up 3 runs, struck out 3, and walked 2. The Dodgers were down 0-3 at that time, and as in Game 4, he was in line for the loss.

In the top of the first inning, with one ball and two strikes, Ohtani hit a sharply driven line drive to center field off Blue Jays’ starter Max Scherzer’s low, outside changeup. Although he advanced to third base afterward, he was unable to help the Dodgers take the lead.

With the umpire’s allowance for extra warm-up pitches due to recent base running, Ohtani was hit with a single by George Springer to start the bottom of the inning. However, he quickly struck out Nathan Lukes and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. consecutively, and catcher Will Smith successfully threw out Springer attempting to advance to second base, effectively ending the inning with three outs in order.

In the bottom of the second inning, after issuing a walk to start, Ohtani gave up two singles, creating a bases-loaded, two-out threat. At a crucial moment, he struck out Andrés Giménez, escaping the scoring danger. Then in the top of the third, he hit a powerful fly ball with an exit velocity of 104.4 mph (approximately 168.06 km/h) and an expected batting average of .690, but was unfortunately caught out.

In the bottom of the third inning, Ohtani gave up a hit to start again. With one out and a runner on second, he intentionally walked Guerrero before Bo Bichette launched a three-run homer estimated to have traveled 442 feet (about 134.72 meters), giving the Blue Jays a 3-0 lead and forcing Ohtani’s removal from the game.

Bichette posted a slash line of .311/.357/.483 with a wRC+ of 134 during the regular season, ranking third among players with over 50 games played on the team, and hit 18 home runs. Due to a knee injury late in the season, he missed the first two rounds of the playoffs and only returned for the World Series, where he hit the crucial three-run homer in Game 7. Bichette will become a free agent after the season concludes.