LOS ANGELES — Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani blasted the first postseason home run of his career to help the Los Angeles Dodgers claim a 7-5 victory over the San Diego Padres in a thrilling Major League Baseball playoff duel on Saturday.
Ohtani crushed a 372-foot three-run rocket into right field off Padres starter Dylan Cease in the second inning to help the Dodgers tie it up at 3-3.
At 3-4, Ohtani once again helped spark a Dodgers revival in the fourth inning. Ohtani’s single loaded the bases and set up a scoring run for Tommy Edman to cut the deficit to 5-4 before Teoscar Hernandez drove in two runs with a single to right field to make it 6-5.
Dodgers catcher Will Smith scampered in for a run to make it 7-5 in the fifth inning.
“The stadium was electric and I was just really able to enjoy the game today,” said Ohtani, who is widely regarded as the best player in baseball.
There was a nervous finale in the ninth inning as the Padres got two men on base.
But closer Blake Treinen struck out Manny Machado to clinch a win which gives the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five National League Division Series.
Dodgers slugger Hernandez paid tribute to the inspirational Ohtani after the win.
“Shohei is Shohei – I don’t think there’s anybody playing like him right now,” Hernandez said. “I’m just glad he’s on our team.”