The Japanese national soccer team suffered a nightmare defeat shortly after 4 AM.
However, a blow that soothed the wounded hearts of the Japanese people came. On the 29th (30th Japan time), Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani started as the leadoff hitter and designated hitter in a road game against the Athletics, hitting his 18th home run of the season, a three-run shot, his first in six games. For fans who were disheartened by the Japanese national soccer team’s early morning defeat, the hit was met with emotional responses, such as “tears of relief.”
It was a perfect hit. In the 6th inning, with a two-run lead and no outs, runners on first and second, Ohtani stepped up to the plate for his fourth at-bat. He powerfully swung at the fifth pitch, a slider thrown by opposing left-hander Crook. The moment he hit it, he knew it was going to be a home run. The ball speed was measured at 112.3 mph (approximately 180.7 km/h), the distance at 432 feet (approximately 131.7 meters), and the angle at 25 degrees. It was a massive home run that caused a stir in the opposing stadium.
On this day, the Round of 32 of the CONCACAF FIFA World Cup began at 2:00 AM Japan time. The Japanese national team got off to a good start against Brazil, scoring an early goal, but were tied in the second half and then conceded a winning goal in the final moments of the match, losing 1-2.
Approximately eight hours after the tearful defeat, Ohtani hit a magnificent home run that seemed to blow away the sad news, prompting numerous comments from fans on social media.
Comments included: “I’m being cleansed by Ohtani-san,” “Ohtani-san’s home run really hit home a nerve in my broken heart,” “Soccer may have lost, but I have the Dodgers,” “Ohtani Shohei’s massive home run clears away the gloomy feelings of the Japanese people!”, “I wonder if Ohtani’s home run is healing the wounds in the hearts of the Japanese people,” and “My heart was saved by Ohtani-san’s home run, tears.”
