Shohei Ohtani had a lighthearted moment with some hecklers during the Dodgers’ 8-2 win over the Padres on Sunday.
Fans near the Dodgers’ dugout were quite vocal throughout the game at Petco Park, and Ohtani, after hitting a solo home run in the ninth inning that widened the lead to six runs, decided to play along.
In a playful move, he approached the fans, jokingly squatting down as they cheered, and even exchanged high-fives with some Padres supporters.
Joe Davis, the broadcaster for the game, noted how the fans had been targeting Ohtani all day, saying he responded with a cheeky, “Do you like that?” after his home run.
Davis remarked that it likely made the fans’ day, turning a bit of banter into a memorable moment for them.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and others enjoyed Ohtani’s antics. Teammate Teoscar Hernández tossed sunflower seeds in jest at him, and Roberts high-fived him as he walked down the steps, clearly amused by the playful exchange.
Roberts acknowledged that it was a bit out of character for Ohtani but added that the heckling was consistent throughout the game, making it all the more fun when Ohtani engaged back.
The home run was a significant part of the Dodgers’ victory, allowing them to avoid a sweep after losing the previous two games against the Padres.
With that home run, Ohtani hit his 45th of the season, tying with Kyle Schwarber of Philadelphia for second place in the National League.
Prior to this game, Ohtani had been impressive, maintaining a 10-0 record with two walks during the series.
