Since his much-anticipated arrival in Major League Baseball back in 2018, Shohei Ohtani has made no secret of his desire to experience the electrifying pulse of October baseball, with his ultimate ambition being to hoist the coveted World Series trophy. In just a matter of days, the dual-threat phenom will finally get the opportunity to chase that dream. Fully aware of the mounting attention surrounding him, Ohtani has responded with the unyielding focus and determination that have defined his career.
Before the postseason drama unfolds, however, Ohtani has already been immersed in a playoff-caliber ambiance during the crucial three-game showdown with the San Diego Padres. Rising to the occasion with unwavering poise, the Japanese sensation delivered in emphatic fashion. Ohtani’s brilliance shone through once more as he not only secured two pivotal hits but also swiped his 56th base, propelling the Dodgers to a narrow 4-3 victory at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday. This triumph has inched Los Angeles to the very cusp of their 11th National League West title in the past 12 seasons.
With just one more win required in Thursday’s series finale, the Dodgers find themselves on the verge of clinching the division crown. Adding to the high stakes, a Wednesday loss by the Milwaukee Brewers ensures Los Angeles would lock in a top-two seed and a coveted first-round bye if they seal the NL West.
The Dodgers entered Wednesday’s contest with an air of determination, eager to shake off a disappointing loss from the previous night as the division remained very much in the balance. Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts, with a sense of urgency in his pre-game remarks, expressed confidence that Padres’ starter Dylan Cease would be left fully aware of L.A.’s resolve. True to their manager’s words, the Dodgers delivered a spirited performance, spearheaded by none other than their most valiant competitor.
In the fourth inning, with the score locked at two apiece, Ohtani pounced on a hanging slider from Cease, sending the ball rocketing off the right-field wall with a blistering exit velocity of 116.8 mph, according to Statcast. The hit brought home Gavin Lux, who had previously tied the game with a timely single, as the Dodgers evened the score. Upon reaching second base, Ohtani faced his dugout and bellowed a rousing “Let’s go!” – a fiery moment that ignited the stadium.
But the spotlight on Ohtani did not fade there. After the Padres knotted things up again in the sixth inning, courtesy of a Fernando Tatis Jr. homer, the Dodgers found themselves needing yet another response. And, as if scripted, Ohtani once again rose to the occasion. With two outs in the inning, he ripped a go-ahead RBI single off Padres’ southpaw Adrian Morejon, putting Los Angeles back in the lead, a lead they would not relinquish.
As the Dodgers now prepare for Thursday’s pivotal clash, Ohtani’s all-encompassing impact has undoubtedly become the beating heart of their postseason push. The Japanese superstar’s hunger for October glory is palpable, and his extraordinary performances are making it clear: Shohei Ohtani has never been more ready to etch his name into baseball history.