Shohei Ohtani set a major league record by homering and stealing a base in the same game for the 14th time and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to beat the last-place Colorado Rockies 6-4 on Friday night.

The win reduced the NL West-leading Dodgers’ magic number to four to clinch the division. Los Angeles is already assured of a postseason berth.

Ohtani’s 52nd homer and 52nd stolen base allowed him to break the previous mark of 13 games with at least one of each set by Rickey Henderson in 1986 with the New York Yankees.

“He’s lights out clearly,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think he’s ramped up his focus.”

Teoscar Hernández hit a go-ahead homer — his 30th — leading off the sixth inning that gave the Dodgers a 4-3 lead. He and Ohtani have homered in the same game 11 times.

SHOHEI OHTANI
HOME RUN NO. 52
FOR THE LEAD 🤯 pic.twitter.com/kIfpUGO8iA

— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2024

“It’s great being a teammate with Shohei, especially because of the things he’s been doing this year,” Hernández said.

The Dodgers tacked on two runs in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Tommy Edman scored on Mookie Betts’ sacrifice fly. Ohtani legged out an infield single to first base and then stole second. He was safe at third on a throwing error by center fielder Sam Hilliard and scored on Hernández’s infield single.

Ohtani had a go-ahead homer with two outs in the fifth after Andy Pages led off the inning with a solo shot. It was Ohtani’s 27th homer at Dodger Stadium, tying Cody Bellinger for the most at home in a single season.

SHOHEI OHTANI
HOME RUN NO. 52
FOR THE LEAD 🤯 pic.twitter.com/kIfpUGO8iA

— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2024

“To be able to cover that ball at the top of the zone, above the zone, go to the big part of the field, it’s pretty spectacular,” Roberts said.

Ohtani singled in the third and finished with his 11th three-hit performance of the season.

SHOHEI OHTANI
HOME RUN NO. 52
FOR THE LEAD 🤯 pic.twitter.com/kIfpUGO8iA

— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2024

He gave the crowd of 49,073 some thrills after the home fans had to watch long distance Thursday night when he became the first player in major league history to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases in a season at Miami.

The Rockies got home runs by Charlie Blackmon, Hilliard and Michael Toglia.

Alex Vesia (4-4) got the victory with one inning of relief. Michael Kopech pitched the ninth for his 14th save.

Colorado’s Kyle Freeland (5-8) took the loss, giving up four runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out two and didn’t walk anyone for the fourth time this season.

Ryan Brasier pitched the first inning to open the bullpen game for the Dodgers.

Let it fly, Andy. pic.twitter.com/Ew7hfPpCgu

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 21, 2024

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: RHP Tyler Kinley went on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation.

Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (toe) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session and hopes to face hitters next week. … RHP Anthony Banda (hand) will throw a bullpen this weekend.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP Cal Quantrill (8-10, 4.68 ERA) makes his second start Saturday since coming off the IL. He’s 1-5 in his career against LA.

Dodgers: RHP Walker Buehler (1-5, 5.54) is looking for just his second win of the season. He got hit hard by the Rockies on June 18, giving up seven hits, seven runs and two homers.

A group of juveniles riding on bicycles ransacked a 7-Evelen store in the Pico-Robertson area Friday night.

The convenience store on 8500 W. Olympic Boulevard was hit just after 7 p.m.

More than 25 juveniles, some masked up, were seen fleeing the 7-Eleven with handfuls of snacks and drinks.

Last month, three 7-Eleven stores were hit within minutes of each other by large groups of teens on bicycles.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bipartisan package of 10 bills in August that aims to crack down on smash-and-grab robberies and property crimes, making it easier to go after repeat shoplifters and auto thieves and increase penalties for those running professional reselling schemes.

A small taco stand on the corner of 7th Street and Termino Avenue that has become a favorite may soon be serving its last taco in Long Beach due to the city’s new street vendor rules.

Lines wrap around the block for the family-run and operated taco stand, Tacos Uziel. Owners Adriana Mancia and Luiz Perez said they started the taco stand for their son’s future.

“My taqueria is called Taco Uziel thanks to my son,” said Mancia. “We started this business for his future, so he won’t have to suffer as much as we had to.”

The young couple migrated separately from Oaxaca but met in Southern California as they worked for other stands around Los Angeles.

“I learned to cook little by little,” said Perez.

The training paid off with rave reviews of the stand’s el pastor and carne asada tacos. 

“Sometimes the lines go all the way to the driveway back here, but we will stand in line because it’s that good,” said Chris Marquis, who lives in Long Beach and frequents Taco Uziel. “Hopefully they stay in Long Beach.”

The smell coming from the charcoal grill is enticing enough for drivers passing by to make a pitstop.

“I can smell the food from my car and I had to stop here,” said Donna Aragon, who lives in Long Beach and came for the first time with her husband to taste the tacos. 

“It makes you hungry, even if you’re not,” said Keith Aragon.

Despite the taco stand’s popularity, Long Beach’s new vendor rules may force the stand to move. 

“We don’t know how much longer we have here,” said Mancia.

Long Beach has been cracking down on unpermitted stands after working for months to educate owners on the new rules passed in February.

The city has even waived the cost of permits as well as licenses and is giving away 40 pre-approved carts that are now required.

To qualify for those carts you have to live in Long Beach.

The couple lives in Compton and said the permit process is difficult to understand.

“It’s very difficult to get permits because there are a lot of regulations for street vendors,” said Mancia,

The owners say if the city forces them to move, they’ll leave Long Beach for another city with more lenient rules. 

Customers say it would be a big loss to Long Beach, not just the food, but the dream of a small family to give their 4-year-old a brighter future.

“If they move, we will follow,” said customer Maria Marquis. “Tell me where they are. Instead of walking over, we will drive over, whatever it needs to be.”