Like seemingly everything else he does, Shohei Ohtani made the postseason look easy.
In his playoff debut, the Los Angeles Dodgers DH was retired on a flyout in his first at-bat against the San Diego Padres. But with two on and two out in the second inning, Ohtani cracked a three-run homer to right field off San Diego starter Dylan Cease. It was Ohtani’s seventh homer in his last 11 games, dating back to the regular season.
In six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani never got a chance to play in the postseason as the Angels failed to qualify each time.
But with a chance at free agency, Ohtnai signed a landmark 10-year, $700 million with the Dodgers — in part, yes, for the money, but in part because the Dodgers have been consistent winners. This year marks the 12th straight year in which the Dodgers have gone to the postseason.
In subsequent at-bats following his homer, Ohtani singled in the fourth before striking out in the sixth and again in the eighth. He finished 2-for-5.
The Dodgers beat the Padres 7-5 in Game 1 of the the teams’ National League Division Series. Game 2 will be Sunday at 8:03 p.m.
In his first season with the Dodgers, Ohtani set club records with 54 homers and 59 stolen bases, becoming just the third player in history to finish in the Top 2 in both home runs and steals and the first since Ty Cobb in 1909. Next month, he is widely expected to win his third MVP award in the last four seasons.
Only one player — Hall of Famer Frank Robinson — has ever won MVP awards in both leagues.
