LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani had quite a game on his bobblehead night. Two home runs, six runs.
Then Jhonny Pereda struck him out.
The Athletics’ backup catcher faced Ohtani in the eighth inning Thursday night.
Pereda gave up three straight hits against the bottom of the Dodgers’ order. With Los Angeles leading 17-2, Ohtani came up with a chance to pile on.
Pereda’s first four pitches to the Japanese superstar were between 62 and 68 mph. Ohtani took a called first strike and later fouled off another pitch.
Then Perada threw an 89-mph fastball.