He did it and he made it look easy, although it most certainly was not.

In what will be remember as one of the single greatest Major League Baseball games ever played, 30-year-old international superstar Shohei Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season, doing so during the Dodgers 20-4 rout of the Miami Marlins on Thursday in front of a LoanDepot Park crowd of 15,548, with millions more watching on television and listening on radio.

Ohtani’s 50th stolen base of the season was of third base with one out in the top of the first inning, having led off the game with a double off the right field wall. For good measure, he would steal second base in the top of the second inning, having reached on a two-out two-run single to right.

Ohtani’s 50th home run of the season was a two-run 391-foot opposite field shot to left field with two outs in the top of the seventh inning off of Marlins right-hander Mike Baumann, this after having hit his 49th of the season in the top of the sixth inning. For good measure, he would hit his third home run of the game and 51st of the season in the top of the ninth to go 6-for-6 on the day, with 10 RBIs and four runs scored. It was his first career three-home-run game.

“One of a kind player, one of a kind season,” SportsNet LA broadcaster Joe Davis said, as Ohtani’s 50th home run ball sailed high over the left field wall at LoanDepot Park.

“I’m glad that the team won and it was something I wanted to get over as quickly as possible, and it’s something that I’m going to cherish for a very long time,” Ohtani told SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson (through interpreter Will Ireton) of becoming MLB’s first 50-50 player .

Asked about his historic day, the Oshu, Japan native answered: “To be honest, I’m the one probably most surprised. I have no idea where this came from, but I’m glad that I performed well today.

“Although I switched uniforms, came to a new team, my goal is to always be in the playoffs, and I’m glad that we were able to make it today, personally and as a team,” Ohtani added about the Dodgers clinching their 12th consecutive a postseason berth and his first.

With his 49th, 50th, and 51st home runs on Thursday, Ohtani passed Shawn Green to become the Dodgers new single-season home run record holder. Green hit 49 home runs with the Dodgers during the 2003 regular season.

One of one.

Play Ball!

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