Shohei Ohtani Powers Dodgers to World Series Sweep/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Shohei Ohtani delivered a legendary two-way performance with three homers and 10 strikeouts, leading the Dodgers to a 5-1 win over Milwaukee and back to the World Series. Ohtani dominated at the plate and on the mound, earning NLCS MVP honors. His Game 4 brilliance sealed a sweep over the top-seeded Brewers.
Ohtani’s Heroics Propel Dodgers: Quick Looks
- Shohei Ohtani hit 3 solo home runs in Game 4.
- Also pitched 6+ shutout innings with 10 strikeouts.
- Dodgers swept the NLCS, defeating top-seeded Brewers 5-1.
- Ohtani became the 13th player with 3 homers in a postseason game.
- He was also the first pitcher to hit 3 homers in a game since 1942.
- Ohtani earned NLCS MVP after a slow postseason start.
- His 3 home runs traveled a combined 1,342 feet.
- First pitcher in MLB history to hit a leadoff homer in postseason.
- Dodgers return to World Series for the second straight year.
- Awaiting the winner of the Blue Jays vs. Mariners ALCS.
Shohei Ohtani Powers Dodgers to World Series Sweep
Deep Look
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani has delivered unforgettable moments throughout his MLB career, but what he did in Game 4 of the 2025 NLCS may go down as the greatest two-way performance in baseball history — and one of the most extraordinary feats in all of sports.
Ohtani launched three home runs and struck out 10 batters while pitching into the seventh inning to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night. The win completed a four-game sweep of the National League’s top seed and sent the reigning champion Dodgers back to the World Series.
In front of a sold-out Dodger Stadium crowd, Ohtani’s performance was both historic and heroic. His three solo home runs came in the first, fourth, and seventh innings, traveling a staggering total of 1,342 feet. On the mound, he allowed only two hits and no runs over 6+ innings, tossing 100 pitches with masterful command and velocity.
“That was probably the greatest postseason performance of all time,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “What he did on both sides of the game — it’s why he’s the best player on the planet.”
Ohtani’s Game 4 outing wasn’t just dominant; it was unprecedented. He became the first pitcher in MLB postseason history to hit a leadoff home run, doing so in the bottom of the first after striking out the side in the top half. His second blast — a 469-foot rocket — cleared the pavilion in right-center, exiting his bat at nearly 117 mph. The final homer landed in the left-center bleachers just after he exited the mound, capping off a one-man demolition of the Brewers.
Prior to Friday, Ohtani had been relatively quiet this October. He entered the game 6-for-38 in the postseason and hadn’t homered in eight games. But like all great athletes, he delivered when it mattered most.
“There were times during the postseason where other guys picked me up,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “This time, it was my turn. I hope fans in LA and Japan can celebrate with a good sake tonight.”
He reached base in all four plate appearances and credited his teammates for helping him stay locked in.
Ohtani is only the third pitcher in MLB history to hit three homers in a game he started on the mound — and the first to do so in 87 years. Jim Tobin (1942) and Guy Hecker (1886) are the only others in that exclusive club. His 3-homer performance is also the first in the postseason since teammate Chris Taylor did it in 2021.
His power display made him the first Dodger ever with two multihomer games in the same postseason, and the only player to record multiple 116+ mph home runs in one game since Statcast began tracking.
While Ohtani’s offense stole headlines, his pitching was equally impactful. After two early walks, he retired 12 of the next 13 batters. He didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning and used a devastating mix of fastballs and off-speed pitches to carve through Milwaukee’s potent lineup. Even after the Brewers put two on in the seventh, reliever Alex Vesia preserved Ohtani’s line with a clutch escape.
Ohtani’s dominance was the crescendo of an already elite postseason pitching stretch for the Dodgers. Including Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow, the Dodgers’ starting rotation has been nearly untouchable. In 10 postseason games, the group has combined for 81 strikeouts and just 10 earned runs over 64.1 innings.
The Dodgers now advance to their second consecutive World Series, where they’ll face either the Toronto Blue Jays or Seattle Mariners. Game 1 is set for next Friday. The extra rest, Ohtani noted, is welcome after a grueling playoff stretch.
“Being able to reset as both a pitcher and hitter is going to be helpful,” Ohtani said. “We’ve played high-pressure games every night.”
His manager agrees.
“We’ve had some postseason struggles with long breaks before,” Roberts said, “but we’re not worried this time. Not with Shohei leading the way.”
With a second NLCS title in two years and a performance that will be talked about for generations, Shohei Ohtani has once again redefined what’s possible in baseball.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.