LOS ANGELES — Since coming over to the Majors in 2018, Shohei Ohtani has constantly made it clear that he needs to expertise the fun of the postseason and, in the end, win a World Collection title.
In a few week, Ohtani will lastly get that probability. He is aware of all eyes will likely be on him. However earlier than that every one unfolds, Ohtani has gotten to expertise a playoff-like ambiance within the pivotal three-game sequence in opposition to the Padres.
Ohtani has greater than responded to the problem. The 2-way Japanese famous person delivered two clutch hits — and stole his 56th base — to hold the Dodgers to a 4-3 win over the Padres on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, placing L.A. on the doorstep of successful its eleventh Nationwide League West title in 12 seasons.
The Dodgers can clinch the division crown with a win in Thursday’s sequence finale. With the Brewers’ loss on Wednesday, the Dodgers have secured a top-two seed and a first-round bye, ought to they win the NL West.
“He’s one of the best participant in baseball,” Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy mentioned of Ohtani. “You by no means suppose he is gonna get out. Each time he will get within the field, you are simply ready for one thing unbelievable to occur, and he actually does not disappoint too usually.”
Coming off a troublesome loss on Tuesday and the division hanging within the steadiness, the Dodgers got here into Wednesday’s contest seeking to reply. Earlier than the sport, Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned he absolutely anticipated Padres right-hander Dylan Stop to return out of his begin figuring out L.A. put up a combat.
The Dodgers did simply that, led by their strongest fighter.
With the sport tied at 2 within the fourth, Ohtani jumped on a Stop slider and bounced it off the right-field wall at a Statcast-projected 116.8 mph. That allowed Gavin Lux, who hit a game-tying single earlier within the body, to return round to attain. As Ohtani obtained to second base, he regarded into the house dugout and set free an enormous “Let’s go!”
“Simply actually pleased I used to be in a position to rating the runs and the alternatives that I used to be given nearly each single at-bat at this time,” Ohtani mentioned via interpreter Will Ireton. “The followers, and even throughout the crew, I do really feel like there’s some sense of elevation relating to enjoying these significant video games.”
Ohtani wasn’t achieved fairly but. After the Padres tied it within the sixth on a Fernando Tatis Jr. homer, the Dodgers wanted to reply as soon as once more. And as soon as once more, it was Ohtani who delivered the massive hit, a two-out go-ahead RBI single off left-hander Adrian Morejon to offer the Dodgers a lead they wouldn’t hand over. He then stole second, tying him with Ichiro Suzuki for many stolen bases in a season by a Japanese-born participant.
“He has raised his degree of play,” Roberts mentioned. “The epitome of it’s that Morejon at bat. He will get behind, 0-2, takes a pair breaking balls and hits the ball exhausting up the center to drive in a run. You see the emotion that you simply by no means see and also you’ve seen that over the past week. He’s sniffing the postseason and understanding how necessary these video games are.”
Nearly as good as Ohtani has been this season — and he’s on his solution to a 3rd Most Priceless Participant Award — he has been on one other degree down the stretch. With a 2-for-3 night time, Ohtani is now hitting .477 (21-for-44) with six homers, 21 RBIs and eight stolen bases in his final 11 video games.
If that’s the kind of manufacturing the Dodgers can anticipate from their finest participant in his first style of postseason ambiance, they’re in place to make a deep run in October.
“I feel that is large for us,” Muncy mentioned of Ohtani exhibiting uncommon emotion. “We have loads of guys in right here with loads of postseason expertise and it isn’t misplaced on us what it means, however when you could have guys that have not been there, and also you see the emotion come out of them, it undoubtedly fires you up. You see that, and also you get actually excited.”
The significance of the second was not misplaced on the remainder of the Dodgers on Wednesday night time, both. After Jack Flaherty tossed 5 innings of three-run ball, Roberts aggressively deployed his prime bullpen arms. Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen and Michael Kopech then mixed to toss 4 scoreless innings in opposition to one of many hottest lineups in baseball.
It was a sport that gave the Dodgers a cheat sheet of what successful in October may appear to be. However first, the NL West is now up for grabs on Thursday.
“Hopefully, with the ability to rejoice in entrance of the house followers,” Ohtani mentioned. “[That] is one thing I’m wanting ahead to.”
