Shohei Ohtani hits first MLB playoff home run
LOS ANGELES — Any initial nerves Shohei Ohtani might have experienced quickly faded away. Ohtani wasted no time adjusting to the intense atmosphere of his inaugural postseason in the Majors, smacking a game-tying three-run homer in his second at-bat against Padres starter Dylan Cease. “We had a game plan for [Ohtani],” Padres manager Mike Shildt stated during an in-game interview after the bottom of the second inning. “Prior to the game, we discussed it: the margin for error is thin, but there are gaps. It comes down to execution. Additionally, we must ensure we get the outs before he comes up.”
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1:59 AM UTC
LOS ANGELES – Any postseason nerves that Shohei Ohtani might have experienced seemed to vanish quickly.
Ohtani wasted no time adjusting to the spotlight of his inaugural postseason in the Majors, launching a game-tying three-run homer in his second at-bat against Padres pitcher Dylan Cease during the second inning of Saturday’s NL Division Series Game 1 at Dodger Stadium.
The home run followed just one pitch after he fouled a ball against his knee.
Striking the ball at 111.8 mph, Ohtani’s homer ranks as the fourth-hardest-hit postseason home run by a Dodger since the commencement of Statcast tracking in 2015. As he observed the ball soaring into the stands, Ohtani executed an impressive bat flip and shouted in celebration before commencing his journey around the bases.
Ohtani continued from where he finished in a remarkable regular season that saw him become the first player to achieve a 50-50 season, simultaneously setting new franchise records with 54 home runs and 411 total bases. He became the sixth Dodgers player to homer in his first-ever postseason game, joining the ranks of Gavin Lux (2019) and Max Muncy (2018).
18), Tom Wilson (’04), Mike Piazza (1995) and Jim Gilliam (’53).
The Dodgers faced an early setback as right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto surrendered three runs in the first inning, leaving them to wrestle with two stranded runners in the subsequent half of the inning.
With Will Smith starting the second inning with a walk and Lux following him with a single, L.A. found themselves at risk of leaving another pair of base runners behind against Cease. The Padres had an open base available, yet Ohtani was up next, trailed in the batting order by two other former MVPs—Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
Cease chose to pitch to Ohtani, who capitalized on a 2-1 four-seamer that grazed the upper zone, making him pay for the decision.
“Our game plan does involve [Ohtani],” said Padres manager Mike Shildt in an in-game interview following the bottom of the second. “We discussed it prior to the game: The margin for error is slim, but there are openings. It’s all about execution. … What’s crucial is ensuring we retire the hitters before he comes up.”
