Shohei Ohtani sets several records, guiding the Dodgers back to the World Series

Ohtani’s Unforgettable Night at Dodger Stadium

In sports media, the term “video game numbers” gets thrown around quite a bit, especially when discussing achievements that seem, well, nearly impossible on paper. But, honestly, when it comes to Shohei Ohtani’s performance at Dodger Stadium on Friday night, those words just don’t seem adequate.

The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS, putting them one step closer to the World Series for the second consecutive year. Manager Dave Roberts decided to start Ohtani and even jotted his name down as the leadoff hitter—just in pencil.

Ohtani walked the first batter but quickly regrouped, striking out the next three, including a jaw-dropping strikeout against DH Christian Yelich, who faced a blazing 100 mph fastball that hit the strike zone perfectly.

After that impressive mound work, Ohtani picked up his bat and helmet to lead off the inning. He launched a solo home run into the right-field seats at a remarkable 116 mph, putting the Dodgers ahead 1-0 and igniting the crowd.

This moment was a slice of history; Ohtani became the first pitcher in MLB history to hit a leadoff home run in both the regular season and playoffs. And, believe it or not, he was just getting started on a night filled with milestones.

In the bottom of the fourth, with the Dodgers leading 3-0, Ohtani re-entered the batter’s box, having already struck out six and given up only one hit. He smashed an 89 mph cutter from Chad Patrick, blasting a staggering 469-foot shot to center field that might have cleared Lot 6 and reached Academy Road.

There’s so much to unpack from that home run alone. First, the Ump Cam captured the moment perfectly: the power behind it, the sheer distance traveled—it was sensational.

In the top of the fifth, Ohtani racked up two more strikeouts. He struck out Caleb Durbin with an impressive splitter, followed by Blake Perkins who also succumbed to the same 87 mph pitch. By the end of the sixth inning, Ohtani had accumulated ten strikeouts, finishing the inning with strikeouts against pinch hitter Isaac Collins and Turan, both falling victim to his splitter, which worked beautifully all night.

Roberts decided to pull Ohtani after the seventh inning. At that point, he had pitched six innings, allowing only two hits, three walks, and ten strikeouts—a solid performance. The bullpen took over, maintaining the 4-0 lead heading into the seventh.

The game concluded with a 5-1 victory for the Dodgers. Ohtani’s performance, spanning six scoreless innings, included his remarkable three home runs.

As Ohtani continues to carve out his place in history, his teammates made an interesting comparison after the game. Mookie Betts likened him to Michael Jordan, saying it felt like they were part of the Chicago Bulls.

A post-match recap highlighted Ohtani’s staggering feats: he became the first player ever to hit two home runs as a pitcher in a postseason game, and he even hit more home runs than the runs he allowed. Before his record, no pitcher had ever hit a leadoff home run at any time during a season.

Dave Roberts chimed in, declaring it possibly the best postseason performance he has ever witnessed. It’s a moment that has initiated endless debates among baseball fans since then.

To truly grasp what Ohtani accomplished that night, it’s best to see it for yourself. Max Muncy expressed his excitement, stating, “I can’t wait until I’m older and kids ask me what the best thing I’ve ever seen in baseball was. That performance—undeniably the greatest in history, in my opinion.”