Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run homer in his first playoff game, and Teoscar Hernández’s two-run single gave Los Angeles its first lead in a playoff game in two years, leading the Dodgers to a 7-5 victory over the San Diego Padres in the NL Division Series opener on Saturday.
Manny Machado hit a two-run homer off starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who was also playing in his first playoff game, putting Los Angeles behind 3-0 early on.
Ohtani quickly helped the Dodgers by hitting a two-out homer that tied the game in the second inning. The Japanese star hit the ball while Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax watched, and fans chanted “MVP! MVP!” His homer traveled 372 feet to right field, and the sellout crowd of 53,028 captured the moment on their phones.
“I just really have never seen a guy in the biggest of moments come through as consistently as he has,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I wish a lot of other players had that ability. He’s just very unique in that.”
San Diego took the lead again at 5-3, but the Dodgers fought back with three runs in the fourth inning. Tommy Edman scored on a wild pitch from reliever Adrian Morejon, who ended up taking the loss.
Ohtani got a broken-bat single and later scored, along with Mookie Betts, on Hernández’s single off Jeremiah Estrada, which put the Dodgers ahead 6-5.
This was their first lead in a postseason game since the seventh inning of Game 4 against the Padres in the 2022 NLDS. Last year, Los Angeles was swept by Arizona in the Division Series.
“We need to fight, and that’s what we did,” Roberts said. “Guys in the ‘pen picked us up and the offense was relentless with their at-bats.”
The Dodgers secured their first postseason win since October 11, 2022, in Game 1 of the Division Series against San Diego. They improved to 1-15 in the playoffs when trailing by three or more runs through the first inning.
Down 7-5, the Padres had the chance to tie the game with two outs in the ninth inning. Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a single off Blake Treinen, and Jurickson Profar walked, bringing up Manny Machado, who struck out swinging. Treinen got the save.
San Diego also had the chance to tie in the eighth inning. Michael Kopech walked Profar to start the inning, but Machado struck out on a called third strike. Jackson Merrill, a top candidate for NL Rookie of the Year, earned a walk after a 10-pitch at-bat.
Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas made a great catch on a pop fly from Xander Bogaerts in shallow left-center. Then Treinen walked Jake Cronenworth to load the bases. With blue rally towels waving, Treinen struck out Donovan Solano swinging to end the inning.
The Padres’ key players—three-time batting champion Luis Arraez, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Machado—went a combined 4 for 14 with three strikeouts. Tatis’ double in the third was hit at 118.9 mph, the hardest of his career and the second hardest in the postseason since Statcast started tracking.
“We didn’t close the door,” Tatis said. “They’re coming alive so we better outscore them. Find a way to make hits happen no matter what.”
Ohtani took 875 regular-season games to reach the playoffs, having spent his first six years with the Los Angeles Angels, who never had a winning record during that time. He finished the game with 2 hits in 5 at-bats, three RBIs, two runs scored, and two strikeouts.
“I could really feel the intensity of the stadium before the game began and I thoroughly enjoyed it,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. Los Angeles made it 7-5 when Edman grounded into a double play that scored Will Smith in the fifth inning.
The Dodgers’ bullpen pitched six scoreless innings, including 1 2/3 innings by winning pitcher Ryan Brasier. The NL West rivals are facing each other in the playoffs for the third time in five years.
The Dodgers defeated the Padres in the 2020 NLDS on their way to winning the World Series during a shortened season due to the pandemic. In 2022, the Padres got revenge by beating the Dodgers in another Division Series.
Yamamoto, Ohtani’s teammate from the World Baseball Classic last year, started the game poorly, falling behind 3-0 while throwing 28 pitches in the first inning. The right-handed pitcher has struggled in opening innings before, including during his debut with the Dodgers in the Seoul Series at the start of the season.
Yamamoto gave up five runs and five hits in three innings. He had one strikeout, three walks, and threw a wild pitch.
Padres starter Dylan Cease, who pitched a no-hitter earlier this season, lasted 3 1/3 innings. He allowed five runs and six hits, struck out five batters, and walked two.
The Dodgers, who won the NL West title, had the best record in the majors this year at 98-64. The Padres, who made it to the playoffs as a wild card, had the top record after the All-Star break.
The Padres fought hard for the NL West title, taking the race down to the final days before the Dodgers won their 11th division title in 12 years. San Diego won eight out of 13 games against the Dodgers this season, taking the season series for the first time since 2010.
Bogaerts put the Padres ahead 5-3 with a two-run double in the third inning.
All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman went 2 for 5 for the Dodgers, playing despite a sprained right ankle he got last week. He stole second base and slid in with his left foot to protect his injury. “I was holding my breath,” Roberts said.
