How the Los Angeles Dodgers reached the World Series for the third time in six years
USA TODAY Sports’ Gabe Lux explains how the Dodgers dominated the Brewers en route to a World Series appearance.
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LOS ANGELES — It was a night that will forever go down in Los Angeles Dodgers history.
There was also a perfect game from Sandy Koufax.
There was also a home run by Kirk Gibson.
And Thursday night saw one of the greatest postseason performances in baseball history against Shohei Ohtani.
The Greatest Show on Earth, and perhaps the greatest player to ever put on a uniform, Ohtani hit three home runs and pitched six impressive innings with 10 strikeouts.
He became the 12th player in history to hit three home runs in a postseason game and will go down in history as the first pitcher to hit multiple home runs in a postseason game.
If you can somehow believe it, Ohtani hit more home runs than he allowed (two) tonight in a performance in front of a sold-out crowd of 52,883 that literally shook Dodger Stadium.
The 31-year-old won the NLCS Most Valuable Player Award for his performance in Game 4.
And, oh yeah, the Dodgers are back in the World Series, too.
When the Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 in the National League Championship Series, their first outright victory in a best-of-seven series since the 1963 World Series, all anyone could talk about was Ohtani and that 1,342-foot home run.
“I think Ohtani is a superhero,” Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas said.
Ohtani took the mound at 5:39 local time, walked leadoff batter Bryce Turan, and immediately struck out Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich, and William Contreras, electrifying the capacity crowd.
He stepped up to the plate at 5:48 a.m. local time and smashed a ball from Brewers starter Jose Quintana, sending the ball flying 446 feet into the right-field pavilion.
Oh, he was just getting started.
Chorio continued to mow down the Brewers through the first six innings with his only hit, a double, but Ohtani came to bat at 6:57 p.m. with two outs in the fourth inning. When facing right-handed relief pitcher Chad Patrick, he witnessed a called first strike followed by three consecutive slurps.
Patrick tried to trick him by throwing an 89 mph cutter.
Ohtani put it into orbit and nearly landed in Pasadena.
Ohtani dropped his bat and watched all night as the ball soared and sailed over the right-field pavilion.
Ohtani had perfect command on the mound, allowing only a double until he started to tire in the seventh inning. He walked Yelich to start the seventh inning, Contreras followed with a single, and after 100 pitches, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts came out of the dugout and pulled him out.
The crowd quickly rose to its feet, the Dodgers infield surrounded Ohtani on the mound, and a roar could be heard in Malibu as Ohtani handed the ball to Roberts.
However, Ohtani left the game only as a pitcher.
He returned as a batter in the bottom of the seventh inning thanks to the Ohtani rule.
Brewers closer Trevor Megill got ahead of Ohtani and tried to throw a 98.9 mph fastball on a count of 1-and-2.
He became Otani’s third victim.
Ohtani smashed a fastball 427 feet over the center field fence, causing the crowd to scream in disbelief.
The Brewers had no choice but to sit back and watch in awe as Ohtani and the Dodgers defeated them in every phase of the game.
The Brewers, who led the National League in batting average, had just 14 hits in the entire series, hitting .113. They scored one goal in the first game, one goal in the second game, one goal in the third game, and one goal in the fourth game.
The Dodgers, who lost all six games in the regular season against the Brewers, completely dominated the contest, leading 35 of 36 times.
Los Angeles, which did not receive a first-round bye, will have a week off before opening the World Series against either the Seattle Mariners or Toronto Blue Jays on October 24th.
The Dodgers will be well rested. And was Ohtani (.103 in NLDS and NLCS) in a deep slump before Game 4? Well, that’s over.
“I think this is his chance to make his mark in this series,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game.
Oh, he’s done it before.
Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale
Blake Treinen pitched in the Dodgers’ eighth with a four-run lead. He gave up a lead-off double to Caleb Durbin and a walk to Andrew Monasterio, but the first out struck out Isaac Collins. Left-hander Anthony Banda appeared with runners on first and third base and grounded out Bryce Turan, giving the Brewers the lead. Banda allowed a single to Jackson Cholio, but grounded out Christian Yelich, ending the inning with a 5-1 lead.
After his night ended on the mound in the top of the seventh inning, Shohei Ohtani stepped up to bat in the bottom of the inning and hit his third home run of the night to center field against Brewers All-Star Trevor Megill.
The Dodgers lead 5-0 going into the 8th inning.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts removed Shohei Ohtani from the game in the seventh inning after pitching 87 pitches. Ohtani walked Christian Yelich to lead off the inning, then gave up a single to William Contreras, ending the night to rapturous applause.
Alex Bashear appeared on second base with no outs, Andrew Vaughn popped out to get one out, and Sal Frelich grounded out into a double play to end the threat.
Otani’s final lineup: 6+ innings, 2 hits, 0ER, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Shohei Ohtani is currently pitching six shutout innings with 10 strikeouts, allowing just one hit and hitting two home runs. Ohtani has thrown 87 pitches, but Dave Roberts may still choose to let him pitch one more time.
A completely surreal postseason performance from a two-way superstar on the verge of winning his fourth MVP award.
Ohtani finally allowed a hit on the mound in the fourth inning, but he missed the ball at the bottom of the frame and smashed his second 469-yard homer of the night into right-center field.
The Brewers struggled to get their offense going through the first three innings of the game. In the top of the third inning, Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers defense quickly defeated the Brewers.
After giving up a walk to Blake Perkins in the first inning, Ohtani recorded his first out by striking out Joey Ortiz. After Bryce Turan lined out, the Dodgers created a double play, and Kiké Hernandez caught the ball in left field and threw a rocket toward Freddie Freeman, who was still at first base, to record Perkins’ three outs.
Shohei Ohtani pitched three no-hitter innings against the Brewers. He has four strikeouts so far.
Blake Perkins and Bryce Turan were the only two players on base for Milwaukee after being given a walk…and Perkins ran the Brewers out of the top of the third inning with a double.
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani provided an early spark for the Dodgers, hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning after a scoreless inning on the mound to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.
The Dodgers offense converted early momentum into a 3-0 lead with Mookie Betts and Will Smith scoring in the first inning.
LOS ANGELES — Enrique Hernandez and the Dodgers continue their “must-win” approach for a chance at a shutout in Friday’s National League game.
“I think we’re going into today like any other day in October like it’s a must-win game, because that’s how we feel,” Hernandez told reporters during pregame media availability.
Hernandez spent nine seasons with the Dodgers, including the last two World Series championships.
“I feel like we’ve been through a lot together as a group,” he said. “We’ve got guys that were here in 2020. We’ve got guys that were here last year. And then we’ve got some new players that we’ve brought in and we’re all committed to the mentality and the goals and the ultimate goal: winning a World Series.”
The Boston Red Sox became the first and only team in MLB history to come back from a 3-0 series deficit to win a best-of-seven series. The Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series.
The Brewers need a win against the Dodgers tonight to start any potential upside.
— James H. Williams
- Shohei Otani (left) P
- Mookie Betts(R) SS
- Will Smith(R)C
- Freddie Freeman (left) 1B
- Tommy Edman(S) 2B
- Teoscar Hernandez (R) RF
- Max Muncy (L) 3B
- Enrique Hernandez (R) LF
- Andy Pages(R) CF
- Bryce Turan (L) 2B
- Jackson Chorio(R) LF
- Christian Yelich (L) DH
- William Contreras (R) C
- Jake Bowers (L) 1B
- Sal Frerich (left) RF
- Caleb Durbin(R) 3B
- Blake Perkins (S) CF
- Joey Ortiz (R) SS
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani has struggled at the plate, but will be the starter for Game 4.
Dodgers infielder Muncy said, “I’m expecting incredible things.” “I expect him to pitch a great game, but what he does offensively is just a bonus at that point.”
“Shohei is one of those superheroes,” Rojas said. “I believe in his talent and believe he can do something really special in one swing. He’s going to create a lot of opportunities for us and pitching.” — Bob Nightengale
