The headlines from Friday evening’s sport between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays largely examine Shohei Ohtani and his walk-off grand slam as a result of it launched him into baseball historical past.
It was his fortieth house run of the season and it got here a few innings after he stole his fortieth base of the season changing into the primary Dodgers participant and sixth all-time to affix the 40-40 membership.
Nevertheless, there was one other storyline that developed earlier within the sport as Bobby Miller had his finest begin since his season debut in late March. The proper-hander gave up three runs and 7 hits — two of them house runs — in six innings, struck out 9, and walked one.
Miller maintained his fastball velocity all through the beginning, landed his curveball for a strike, and generated 18 swinging strikes. He threw 68 of 96 pitches for strikes.
“Simply throwing extra strikes then extra swings and misses will come,” Miller instructed Dodgers Nation reporter Doug McKain after the sport. “The earlier begin there wasn’t lots of walks however falling behind 2-0, 3-1 is simply as dangerous. Getting strike one, 0-1, 0-2 shortly, I did lots of that.”
The beginning on Friday was an enormous enchancment from his final begin on Aug. 15 when gave up eight hits and 4 earned runs whereas solely hanging out one.
For Miller, Friday was the most effective he has felt in a very long time.
That’s the most effective my curveball has felt in a really very long time,” Miller mentioned. “I used to be capable of rip on the market and throw it as exhausting as I may as an alternative of simply guiding that pitch in there. I had full belief in each single one among my pitches tonight… You’ve obtained to complete this yr robust.”
Miller has felt the entire feelings this season. He has been disillusioned largely however Friday introduced a way of hope as he improved to 1-3 by 9 begins. It’s a far cry from final yr’s 11-4 document with a 3.76 earned run common however it’s a step in the proper course.
Ultimately, Ohtani stole the present however he won’t have had that chance if Miller didn’t have such a superb outing.
Photograph Credit score: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports activities
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