Throwing shade! Reynolds defies wall, sun to commit HR robbery of Ohtani
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PITTSBURGH -- Shohei Ohtani was mere inches away from a two-run homer in the top of the third inning in the Pirates' 9-8 win over the Dodgers at PNC Park. That was until Pittsburgh left fielder Bryan Reynolds had something to say about it.
On the seventh pitch of an at-bat between the left-handed Ohtani and Pittsburgh starter Jared Jones, Ohtani slugged a fastball to the left-field wall. With the ball flying at a Statcast-projected 101.7 mph, Reynolds leaped well above the fence to rob Ohtani of what would have been his 12th home run of the season. Ohtani eventually got No. 12 as his two-run homer in the top of the ninth capped the scoring.
“It was two rows back. It was a tough catch,” Reynolds said nonchalantly. “It was a perfect ball for it. It was high. I thought the timing was perfect.”
Reynolds said stealing a homer from one of the game's best felt no different than any other robbery. He joked postgame that he can dunk a basketball easily, lining up with the projected height of the catch over the wall.
The wind was blowing out, pushing the ball further as Reynolds seemingly looked right into the bright sun. But only an in-game adrenaline rush can bring the ball back like he did.
“I can't really practice it,” Reynolds said.
Bucs manager Don Kelly, who has served on the Pirates’ staff for all of Reynolds' career outside of his rookie season, was pleased with his left fielder's performance.
“That was the best play I've seen Bryan make in the outfield,” Kelly said. “For him to go up over the wall -- I mean, that wasn't just getting over either. It looked like he got up and hit the wall pretty good, made a great play there and got two runs back.”
Reynolds was greeted with a standing ovation from the crowd on his jog back to the dugout. Ohtani quickly sprinted back to the visitors’ dugout, grabbing his glove and returning to the pitcher’s mound.
In the bottom of the third inning, Ohtani hit Reynolds with a sweeper on the left foot. Revenge? Probably not.