DODGERS’ Shohei Ohtani had the game-winning hit — a grand slam – on Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

By Pete Zarustica/Orange County Tribune

Call Cooperstown: Is it possible to send an active player to the Baseball Hall of Fame?

Shohei Ohtani made a good case for an exception to the rules on Friday at Chavez Ravine when he hit a grand slam, game-winning walkoff home run that gave the Los Angeles Dodgers a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Not only did he hit a dramatic, crowd-thrilling dinger, he became the sixth player in big league baseball history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season with a swiped base earlier in the game.  And he did it earlier in his career than any other player had.

“He’s definitely known for the dramatics and this is something I’ll remember for a long time,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. “What a way to cap off a great night.”

The victory kept the Dodgers ahead by four games over the surging Arizona Diamondbacks, now second in the National League West. The San Diego Padres are also in the race, just 4.5 games back.

The Rays led 3-0 after three innings, but the Blue Crew tied it up with a three-run home run in the fifth inning by Enrique Hernandez. That was where it stood until the ninth when a hit batsman, a single and a walk set the table for Ohtani’s mighty blast.

That brought 45,556 fans at Dodger Stadium to their feet, as one more page is written in the history books by Shohei Ohtani.

Angels blow another lead and lose 5-4

By Arthur David/Orange County Tribune

For the Los Angeles Angels, no lead is too big and no skid is too long. They proved that on Friday night in Toronto.

The Halos jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the second inning, thanks to doubles by Anthony Rendon and Jo Adell.

However, the Blue Jays pecked away and closed to within 4-3 when the bottom of the ninth rolled around.

With nobody on and nobody out, Joey Loperfido homered to centerfield to tie the game at 4-all. The very next batter, Addison Barger slammed the first pitch into the stands in right center field and the Blue Jays (61-68) got a walkoff 5-4 victory and the visiting Angels (64-75) got their third straight loss and their ninth defeat in 11 games.

The team remains in fifth and last place in the American League West.

Tagged for the deciding runs and the loss and the blown save was Roansy Contreras (2-3)

The two teams will play again on Saturday with Carson Fuller (0-4) scheduled to make the start for the Halos.