Shohei Ohtani delivered a historic two-way performance, hitting three home runs and striking out 10 batters to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS and a return to the World Series.
Ohtani entered Game 4 mired in a postseason slump, having struggled at the plate in previous games, but he quickly dispelled any doubts with a dominant showing on both sides of the ball. Starting on the mound, he set the tone by striking out the side in the first inning, including two batters on triple-digit fastballs, showcasing his elite pitching form from the outset.
At the plate, Ohtani wasted no time, launching a 446-foot home run in the bottom of the first inning off Brewers starter Jose Quintana. This early blast signaled that something special was unfolding, as he became the first player in MLB history to hit a leadoff home run as a pitcher in a postseason game, energizing the Dodger Stadium crowd.
His pitching mastery continued through six scoreless innings, where he allowed only two hits and three walks while racking up 10 strikeouts. Ohtani generated 19 whiffs, with his splitter proving particularly devastating, as Brewers hitters missed on all five swings against it, highlighting his command and variety of pitches.
In the fourth inning, Ohtani added to his legend with a monstrous 469-foot home run that cleared the right-center field pavilion roof, one of the longest postseason homers ever tracked by Statcast. He completed his home run trifecta with a third solo shot in the seventh inning, a line drive that left the bat at 113.6 mph, cementing an unparalleled offensive display.
Teammates and coaches were left in awe of the performance, with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts calling it “probably the greatest postseason performance of all time” and third baseman Max Muncy stating it was “the single best performance in the history of baseball.” Utility player Kiké Hernández, who had a three-homer game in the 2017 NLCS, humorously noted that Ohtani’s feat was even more impressive because he also struck out 10 batters.
The Dodgers’ victory capped a dominant NLCS in which their starting pitchers posted a combined 0.63 ERA, stifling the Brewers’ offense throughout the series. Los Angeles has now won nine of its first 10 postseason games, joining an elite group of teams that have started the playoffs so strongly, underscoring their resilience after a middling regular season.
With the sweep, the Dodgers become the first team since the 2009 Phillies to return to the World Series the year after winning it. They await the winner of the American League Championship Series between the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays, with World Series Game 1 scheduled for Friday, setting the stage for another championship pursuit.
Ohtani’s performance not only earned him NLCS MVP honors but also cemented his status as one of the greatest players in baseball history. His ability to excel simultaneously as a hitter and pitcher in a high-stakes playoff game is unprecedented, leaving fans and analysts marveling at his unique talents and the lasting impact on the sport.