The Redemption Tour Begins
The redemption tour began just as the Dodgers imagined it, back when they signed Shohei Ohtani to his $700-million contract in the offseason.
A Game-Changing Home Run
With one of the superstar’s thunderous, no-doubt, game-changing home run swings.
A Nightmarish Start
One inning into their postseason opener Saturday night, the Dodgers were having nightmare flashbacks to last year, facing yet another steep hole after yet another poor performance from their Game 1 starting pitcher.
The 53,028 towel-waving fans at Dodger Stadium had been silenced. In the visiting dugout, the San Diego Padres were riding an early jolt of momentum.
Ohtani’s Big Moment
But then, in the kind of sequence that has eluded the Dodgers during their postseason failures of recent years, Ohtani came to the plate and, in his first career playoff game, immediately wiped the slate clean.
In the Dodgers’ 7-5 win in the opening game of this year’s National League Division Series, Ohtani hit a three-run home run to tie the game and erase the early deficit.
The Turning Point
It gave the Dodgers life. It reenergized a sellout crowd at Chavez Ravine. And most importantly, it keyed what could be a crucial Game 1 victory, helping the Dodgers land an opening strike in this week’s best-of-five series.
The Late-Inning Rally
The Dodgers didn’t take their first lead Saturday until the fourth inning, when Teoscar Hernández lined a go-ahead two-run single to center field. Their only run after that came after a careless throwing error by Manny Machado in the fifth.
Ohtani’s Impact
But without Ohtani’s early blast, there might have been no mid-game plot twist.
After consecutive postseasons in which the Dodgers failed to battle back in playoff games, Ohtani made sure Saturday would be different.
The Bottom of the Lineup
Down 3-0 after a three-run Padres first inning in which Yoshinobu Yamamoto struggled with his command and hung a two-strike splitter to Machado for a two-run homer, the Dodgers’ second-inning rally began at the bottom of the lineup.
Ohtani’s Big Swing
With a line-drive rocket that traveled 372 feet at almost 112 mph, he cleared the fence in front of the right-field pavilion, one big swing that tied the score 3-3.
The Final Verdict
Six scoreless innings from the L.A. bullpen kept the lead from changing hands again.
Conclusion
Ohtani’s game-changing home run marked the turning point in the game, giving the Dodgers the momentum they needed to take control. The Dodgers’ ability to battle back from an early deficit and take the lead in the fourth inning sets the tone for the rest of the series.
FAQs
Q: What was the score at the end of the game?
A: The Dodgers won 7-5.
Q: Who hit the game-changing home run?
A: Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run home run to tie the game and erase the early deficit.
Q: Who was the starting pitcher for the Dodgers?
A: Yoshinobu Yamamoto started the game for the Dodgers, but struggled with his command and hung a two-strike splitter to Machado for a two-run homer.
Q: Who was the hero of the game?
A: Ohtani’s big swing was the turning point in the game, giving the Dodgers the momentum they needed to take control.
