LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani showcased his incredible talent during his postseason debut, hitting a powerful three-run homer to tie the game in the second inning of Saturday’s National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. Following his dramatic swing, Ohtani took a moment to soak in the atmosphere before dashing up the first-base line.
“I could really feel the intensity of the stadium before the game began,” Ohtani said through an interpreter, adding that he thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Ohtani’s homer, a 118 mph line drive off a fastball from Padres pitcher Dylan Cease, came after Manny Machado had given San Diego an early lead with a two-run blast. The game was a thrilling back-and-forth matchup that ultimately ended in a 7-5 victory for the Dodgers in front of a sold-out crowd. It featured numerous lead changes, early scoring, impressive defensive plays, key errors, and high-stakes moments.
Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen described Ohtani’s performance, saying, “I don’t even try to explain him anymore. Just watch and enjoy.”
After the Padres regained the lead with a two-run double from Xander Bogaerts in the third, the Dodgers answered in the fourth. They loaded the bases with one out, taking the lead on a wild pitch followed by a two-run single from Teoscar Hernandez.
The Dodgers’ bullpen shone as they went on to deliver six scoreless innings, following a shaky performance from starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Relief appearances from Ryan Brasier, Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech, and Treinen were crucial, as they combined for two hits and four walks.
In a tense ninth inning, the Padres threatened against Treinen, placing runners on first and second with two outs. Machado stepped to the plate, but Treinen struck him out with a pitch that sailed past the bat to secure the win.
“I talked about this for a few weeks: We need to fight,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “And that’s what we did tonight.”
The Dodgers have faced disappointment in the past two Octobers, having been eliminated in the NLDS despite strong regular-season performances. This year, they intended to gain an edge over a healthier and more balanced Padres squad, which was evident in their Game 1 performance.
Key contributions came from various players, including Treinen, who was asked to get five outs for the first time this season. Veteran shortstop Miguel Rojas made an impressive play despite dealing with an adductor strain, and Gavin Lux made a critical catch in the ninth. Freddie Freeman also stood out, managing to play through significant injury concerns, collecting two hits and stealing a base.
“I was told there was a 1% chance that Freddie was going to be able to play,” said Max Muncy, who was poised to step in for him.
Freeman twisted his ankle just days before and fought through soreness to be in the lineup. After extensive treatment and light workouts, he was determined to contribute in the highly anticipated game.
Ohtani has been in outstanding form lately, having a remarkable end to the regular season. He made history by reaching the 50/50 club and posted a staggering OPS of 1.853 as he led the Angels into the playoffs. In his postseason debut, he became only the third player to homer in his first playoff game, joining the ranks of Brooks Robinson and Giancarlo Stanton.
“He injected an absolute lightning bolt into the stadium,” said Muncy about Ohtani’s impact. “And from then on it was like, ‘All right, we got this. We’re good.’”