Fans lined up as early as 5 a.m. outside Dodger Stadium for a special bobblehead giveaway featuring Shohei Ohtani and his dog, Decoy. By the time the gates opened, around 20,000 eager fans were ready to collect the unique promotion, which included a limited number of gold editions.
The evening’s festivities kicked off with Decoy delivering the first pitch to Ohtani, earning the loudest cheers of the night—until Ohtani stepped up to the plate in the first inning. The two-time American League MVP wasted no time, launching a leadoff home run off Orioles’ right-hander Corbin Burnes. He later added two stolen bases, leading the Dodgers to a 6-4 victory over Baltimore.
“I was surprised when I saw the long lines outside the stadium,” Ohtani said through his interpreter, Will Ireton. “I thought it was for another special event!”
Ohtani continues to dominate on the field, now boasting 42 home runs and 42 stolen bases. He is on track to become the first player ever to achieve a 50-50 season, a feat only Alex Rodriguez has come close to in 1998.
“Every big moment, he rises to the occasion,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “And tonight, on his bobblehead night, he did it again.”
Despite Ohtani’s stellar performance, Decoy’s first pitch remained the talk of the locker room. Ohtani, who introduced Decoy to the world during his MVP acceptance, has made his dog a fan favorite. The two even rehearsed the pitch at Dodger Stadium weeks before the big night.
“It’s a special night,” Ohtani said. “I’ll have to get Decoy a special snack.”
When asked who had the more impressive night, Roberts joked, “I think Decoy stole the show. If it’s Shohei’s dog, nothing should be surprising.”
With Ohtani and Decoy leading the way, the Dodgers pulled off a much-needed win, highlighted by Teoscar Hernández’s go-ahead three-run homer and a solid 4 2/3 innings from Walker Buehler.
Buehler reflected on the outing, saying, “Against one of the best offenses, I felt competitive. Not perfect, but good progress.”
