Dave Roberts slams Shohei Ohtani’s ‘brain cramp’ in costly NLCS blunder

The Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts didn’t hold back when calling out Shohei Ohtani for a mental lapse that could haunt Los Angeles as they now face a winner-take-all Game 6 in the National League Championship Series.  The Dodgers had a golden opportunity to strike early in Game 5 on Friday night, with Ohtani perched on third base and nobody out. But a moment of hesitation from the two-way superstar left Roberts fuming.

With runners on second and third in the first inning, Teoscar Hernández sent a routine grounder toward shortstop Francisco Lindor. Playing deep, Lindor likely would’ve allowed the Dodgers to score if Ohtani had just made a break for home. However, Ohtani froze-and with that pause, the chance to jump ahead slipped away.

Dave Roberts discussed why Shohei Ohtani didn’t score in the first inning of Game 5.https://t.co/jaq5A4PaOa

— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) October 19, 2024

Ohtani’s costly mistake

Fox’s Ken Rosenthal caught up with Roberts during an in-game interview, and the manager didn’t sugarcoat his frustration: “Yeah, I don’t know. It was corners in right there, ball to the middle of the field. I think he just had a brain cramp and locked up right there.”

That split-second hesitation gave the Mets life, and they didn’t waste it. After dodging the early scoring threat, New York’s Pete Alonso crushed a three-run homer in the bottom of the first. Although the Dodgers clawed back to 3-1 in the second inning, the Mets exploded with five runs in the third, blowing the game wide open.

The Dodgers’ hopes of clinching the series were crushed by the end of the night, as the Mets coasted to a 12-6 win. Now, instead of celebrating a trip to the World Series, Los Angeles must regroup for a nerve-wrecking Game 6 back at Dodger Stadium on Sunday.

The Mets came with vengeance and are not going down easy.

The Dodgers struggled in Game 5 and finished with a 12-6 loss.

We’ll see you Sunday back in LA to take on Game 6 pic.twitter.com/VsBEEehatv

— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) October 19, 2024

The Dodgers will have to regroup

For Roberts, the costly blunder was a frustrating reminder that even superstars like Ohtani aren’t immune to mistakes. “They built momentum, and hopefully we can weather that,” Roberts added, though the Game 5 result suggests the Dodgers will need more than just hope to fend off the surging Mets.  With the series now hanging in the balance, all eyes will be on Ohtani and the Dodgers to see how they respond in the next high-stakes showdown.