Shohei Ohtani’s dirty gesture sparks controversy during Phillies game

In Wednesday night’s game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies, Shohei Ohtani found himself at the center of a social media storm following what appeared to be a lewd gesture.  The incident occurred after Ohtani stole a base and seemed to celebrate in a manner that shocked some fans.

Ohtani’s controversial celebration in Dodgers loss

As Ohtani slid into second base in the first inning, he removed his glove, placed it in front of his groin, and shook it vigorously while looking towards his dugout.  To many viewers, the action resembled an inappropriate gesture, leading to immediate backlash online.  Former MLB star Jose Canseco even took to social media, calling the gesture “disgusting.”

However, upon closer examination, it appears that Ohtani was simply shaking dirt out of his glove.  The motion, though unfortunately positioned, was intended to clear debris rather than simulate any suggestive activity.  This was evident in the game’s broadcast, although ESPN chose not to highlight the moment in their replay coverage.  Despite the brief uproar, Ohtani continued to play through the next eight innings without further incident.

no way Shohei Ohtani celebrated a stolen base by crankin’ his shit 😭😭😭

pic.twitter.com/50MOjZz5Ib

— Evan (@OhChev) July 10, 2024

Phillies sweep Dodgers in three-game series

The game itself saw the Phillies secure a 4-3 victory, completing a three-game sweep of the Dodgers.  This win marked the Phillies’ first sweep of the Dodgers since 2011 and the first in Philadelphia since 2008.

Kyle Schwarber put an exclamation point on the @Phillies sweep of the Dodgers! 💪 pic.twitter.com/81KlnlvEUw

— MLB (@MLB) July 12, 2024

Aaron Nola led the Phillies with nine strikeouts over six innings, while Kyle Schwarber added to the scoreboard with a home run.  The Dodgers, who have been struggling, lost their fourth straight game and have dropped eight of their last twelve.  Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman acknowledged the team’s poor performance, stating, “We didn’t play very good that series. There’s nothing to spin it any different way.”

The Dodgers, dealing with injuries to key players like Mookie Betts, Tyler Glasnow, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, are looking forward to the All-Star break as a chance to regroup.  Despite their recent struggles, the team aims to bounce back in their upcoming series against the Detroit Tigers.