LOS ANGELES—Shohei Ohtani had arguably the greatest postseason performance in MLB history as the Los Angeles Dodgers captured the National League Pennant over the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-1 on Friday, October 17.
The Dodgers swept the hapless Milwaukee Brewers 4-0 in the National League Championship Series.
Dodgers Stadium was in a frenzy, fireworks bursting in the sky as the Boys in Blue are looking to repeat as World Series champs, a feat that hasn’t happened in twenty-five years.
Shohei Ohtani was the star of Game 4, becoming the first player in MLB history to hit three home runs and record 10 strikeouts in the same postseason game. He was named the NLCS MVP for his performance.
“That was probably the greatest postseason performance of all time,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Shohei went from a slump into the NLCS MVP all in one majestic performance. After striking out three in the top of the first inning, Ohtani hit the first leadoff homer by a pitcher in major league history off Brewers starter Jose Quintana.
Ohtani followed with a 469-foot drive in the fourth, clearing a pavilion roof in right-center.
He added a third solo shot in the seventh, becoming the 12th big league player to hit three homers in a postseason game. His three homers traveled a combined 1,342 feet.
Ohtani also thoroughly dominated the Brewers in his second career postseason start on the mound, allowing just two hits during his first double-digit strikeout game in a Dodgers uniform. He didn’t give up a hit until the fourth, and he fanned two Brewers in the fourth, fifth and sixth.
The powerhouse Dodgers are the first team to win back-to-back pennants since Philadelphia in 2009. Los Angeles is back in the World Series for the fifth time in nine seasons, and it will attempt to become baseball’s first repeat champs since the New York Yankees won three straight World Series from 1998 to 2000.
Following a 9-1 rampage through the NL playoffs, the Dodgers are headed to the World Series for the 23rd time in franchise history, including 14 pennants since moving from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. Only the Yankees, last year’s opponent, have made more appearances in the Fall Classic (41).
Now the Dodgers await the winner of the American League. The Toronto Blue Jays beat the Seattle Mariners in a hard fought seven game series.
Toronto has home field advantage. Game 1 of the World Series will be at the Rogers Stadium. First pitch of the Fall Classic is at 5:00 pm, the World Series will air on FOX.
Only four wins away from another World Series title, adding to the greatness and mythology of this Dodger Dynasty.
