Ohtani ‘grateful and respectful’ despite Toronto boos, calls Blue Jays fans ‘passionate’
Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to five games
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani watches his solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Shohei Ohtani responded to boos from the Toronto crowd by hitting his seventh home run, Max Muncy and Will Smith also went deep and the Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to five games with a 12-2 rout of the Blue Jays on Friday night.
Ohtani ‘grateful and respectful’ despite Toronto boos, calls Blue Jays fans ‘passionate’
Smith had his second straight four-hit game and finished with three RBIs as the Dodgers won in their first trip to Canada since 2016.
Muncy’s fifth homer of the season was a three-run shot off Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt (2-4) that highlighted the Dodgers’ six-run third inning.
Some in the crowd of 39,688 booed Ohtani when he was introduced prior to the game and before each of his at-bats.
“Not surprised,” Ohtani said through a translator.
Unfazed, the slugger homered on the third pitch he saw from Bassitt in the first inning.
After he homered, the guys in the dugout booed him as well,” Dave Roberts said. “That was pretty funny. He got a big kick out of that. But I don’t think it’s a motivator.”
Smith said he was impressed with Ohtani’s response to the unwelcome reception.
“You can’t make something happen there,” Smith said. “He got a pitch to hit and he put it over the fence. That’s what he did.”
Ohtani met with Toronto as a free agent last winter when he visited the Blue Jays’ spring training facility in Dunedin, Fla. Ohtani was set to fly to Toronto to sign with the Blue Jays. However, when the $700 million contract with the Dodgers was announced the next day, Ohtani was not on the plane..
