Shohei Ohtani Goes Ballistic After Getting Tagged At Home Thanks to Umpire's Interference

PublishedOctober 10, 2024 12:00 AM EDT|UpdatedOctober 10, 2024 9:04 AM EDT

Ever seen Shohei Ohtani angry? The $700 million player seldom loses his temper, but a particular incident on Wednesday night made him flip his lid.

Game 4 between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers had everyone on edge from the fans to the players. The Dodgers were primed for another disappointing postseason exit until their bats woke up to the desperation and turned on the offense early in the elimination game.

READ: Dodgers Fans Up In Arms Over Manny Machado's 'Sloppy' Base Running That Led To Six-Run Inning

Climbing to a 5-0 lead in the fourth, the Dodgers inched close to a 6-0 lead if not for an accidental play at third base where the umpire stopped a fair ball destined to score Ohtani from second base.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 09: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after a walk in the sixth inning during Game Four of the Division Series against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on October 09, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 09: Kyle Higashioka #20 of the San Diego Padres makes the out on the slide by Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth inning during Game Four of the Division Series at Petco Park on October 09, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

With two outs for LA and Ohtani waiting at third, Teoscar Hernandez hit a fair ball to third that could have traveled away from Padres third baseman Manny Machado if not for third base umpire Mark Ripperger’s "defense."

The ball ricocheted off the ump, which Machado scooped and threw home to get Ohtani out.

After being tagged at home by Kyle Higashioka, Ohtani expressed frustration in the dugout, knowing he had missed a scoring opportunity and allowed the Dodgers to take a six-run lead.

Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts also disagreed with the ump's unintended defense.

Ohtani’s journey around the bases was all for nothing.

But you can’t fault the ump for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Much like Tuesday’s game, audiences (notably in LA) grew furious over an unintended sequence that went the Padres’ way.

All that time in Anaheim helped Ohtani build up some patience, but even the unicorn can lose his cool.

The Dodgers shut out the Padres, 8-0, to force a Game 5, set for Friday.