LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani hit a two-out grand slam in the ninth inning for his 40th home run after earlier stealing his 40th base, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night.

Ohtani became the fastest player in major league history and sixth ever to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in a season. He’s also the first Dodger to do so.

He broke the record held by Alfonso Soriano, who reached the mark in Game 148 for the Washington Nationals in 2006. Ohtani did it in the Dodgers’ 129th game.

“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 Japanese superstar came out of the dugout to wave at 45,556 fans who gave him a standing ovation. His teammates showered Ohtani with water on the field.

Will Smith was hit by Manuel Rodriguez (2-3) leading off the ninth and Tommy Edman followed with a single. Smith and Edman moved up on Miguel Rojas’ sacrifice. Colin Poche came in and walked Muncy to set up Ohtani’s 389-foot slam to centre.

“He’s just dangerous any time he puts that uniform on,” Roberts said.

Centre fielder Jose Siri gave chase and the home run ball bounced back onto the field. He threw it back into the stands, leaving Ohtani without the keepsake, according to Ohtani’s interpreter Will Ireton.

Tied 3-3, the Rays had the go-ahead run on in the ninth. A ball hit by Jonny DeLuca hit off the heel of reliever Michael Kopech’s glove for an error. DeLuca was caught stealing before Siri struck out on a 101-mph pitch from winning pitcher Kopech (4-8) to end the inning.

In the eighth, the Rays had the potential go-ahead run on third. Brandon Lowe doubled into the left field corner and took third on Junior Caminero’s groundout before Evan Phillips struck out Christopher Morel to end the inning.

Tampa Bay led 3-0 on a pair of two-out homers off Bobby Miller. Caminero blasted a 417-foot solo shot to centre with two strikes in the first. Six of the Rays’ first seven hits came with two outs.

Morel added a two-run homer in the third, going deep for his 21st homer and third since coming to the Rays from the Chicago Cubs last month.

Kiké Hernández’s three-run shot tied the game 3-3 in the fifth, chasing Tyler Alexander. Edman singled and Lux walked to set up Hernández’s eighth homer.

Alexander gave up three runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out one and walked two.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: RHP Tyler Glasnow (elbow) is expected to start ramping up Saturday. … RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (triceps) will throw a bullpen session Monday and go on a rehab assignment Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Rays: RHP Taj Bradley (6-8, 3.55 ERA), who was born in Los Angeles, makes his first career start against the Dodgers.

Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (2-2, 2.63) scattered four hits over six shutout innings in his last start at St. Louis.

In a thrilling matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays, Shohei Ohtani stole the show with a walk-off grand slam to lead the Dodgers to victory. The game was a back-and-forth battle that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Ohtani, who is known for his incredible two-way abilities as both a pitcher and a hitter, showcased his power at the plate in this game. With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Ohtani stepped up to the plate and delivered a towering shot over the outfield wall to give the Dodgers a dramatic 6-2 win.

The grand slam was Ohtani’s second home run of the game, as he had previously gone deep in the fifth inning to tie the game at 2-2. His performance at the plate was nothing short of spectacular, as he finished the game with five RBIs and solidified his status as one of the most exciting players in baseball.

But Ohtani’s heroics were not limited to his offensive prowess. Earlier in the game, he also pitched six strong innings, allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out nine batters. His dominant performance on the mound set the stage for his late-game heroics at the plate and helped propel the Dodgers to victory.

The win was a much-needed one for the Dodgers, who had been struggling in recent weeks. It was a statement victory that showcased the team’s resilience and ability to come through in clutch situations. And it was all thanks to Shohei Ohtani, whose incredible talent and versatility continue to amaze fans and leave opponents in awe.

As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Ohtani to see what other feats he can accomplish on the baseball diamond. Whether it’s hitting towering home runs or striking out batters with his electric stuff on the mound, Ohtani has proven time and time again that he is a special talent who can change the course of a game with a single swing of the bat. And on this night, he did just that, leading the Dodgers to an unforgettable victory with his walk-off grand slam.