Shohei Ohtani rekindles legendary rivalry with 101 MPH strikeout of former teammate Mike Trout

The Los Angeles Angels defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-5 on Wednesday, completing a three-game sweep of the defending champions. It marked the second sweep of the season for the Angels, who improved to 59-62, while the Dodgers continue to struggle in the National League West.

Shohei Ohtani had a mixed night against his former team. At the plate, he went 1-for-4 with a triple and three strikeouts. On the mound, he allowed four earned runs on five hits over 4.1 innings, walked none, and struck out seven, lowering his season ERA to 3.47.

One of the highlights of the game came when Ohtani struck out former teammate Mike Trout with a 101 mph fastball, a reminder of their memorable matchups, including the 2023 World Baseball Classic Final where Ohtani also fanned Trout to seal the title for Team Japan.

How did Ohtani pull off this strikeout?

Ohtani’s repertoire remains elite, blending velocity and precision. His recent strikeout of Trout ranks among his fastest career punchouts, joining previous highlights from MLB and the WBC, including pitches exceeding 101 mph. This ability to generate swing-and-miss moments cements Ohtani’s status as a rare two-way player capable of controlling games both on the mound and at the plate.

What impact does this have on the Dodgers’ standings?

While Ohtani’s individual success stood out, the Dodgers suffered another setback in the NL West. They will return to action on Friday against the San Diego Padres, who currently lead the division by one game. For Los Angeles, every game in this series could be pivotal in maintaining their playoff hopes.