Ohtani Scores on Inside-the-Park Home Run After Ball Hits Netting

Shohei Ohtani hit a line drive down the right-field line in the top of the eighth inning that took one hop inside the foul line and bounced over the low wall at Angel Stadium. The ball struck protective netting that extends nearly to the right-field foul pole, a new addition at the stadium this year, and ricocheted back onto the field.

Right fielder Jo Adell initially raised his arms, believing the ball should have been dead. By the time he retrieved it, Ohtani had reached third base. Adell then threw a relay that got past two cutoff men. The ball trickled toward the mound, and Ohtani scored without a throw.

Angels manager Kurt Suzuki challenged the play, stating the team thought a fan might have retrieved the ball from behind the screen. Video replay confirmed the initial call that the ball remained live.

MLB universal ground rules state that a live ball striking protective netting and rebounding onto the field remains in play. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the netting made the ball live and that the team was not concerned about the challenge. Ohtani said through an interpreter that he kept running after hitting the ball.