The Los Angeles Dodgers are heading back to the World Series after a commanding Game 4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, completing a clean sweep in the National League Championship Series. Leading the charge was Shohei Ohtani, whose record-breaking performance will go down as one of the greatest in postseason history.
The Japanese superstar delivered a dazzling display both at the plate and on the mound, hitting three home runs and striking out 10 batters in six shutout innings. Ohtani became the first player in Major League Baseball history to record three home runs and double-digit strikeouts in a single game, cementing his status as one of the sport’s most extraordinary talents.
Ohtani’s heroics began with a 427-foot leadoff homer in the first inning — making him the first starting pitcher since 1900 to hit a leadoff home run in a postseason game. He followed with towering blasts of 469 and 446 feet in the fourth and seventh innings, respectively, sending Dodger Stadium into a frenzy each time.
“It was really fun on both sides of the ball today,” Ohtani said through his translator while accepting the NLCS MVP award. “We won it as a team, and I hope everyone in LA and Japan enjoys a good sake tonight. Let’s get four more wins.”
Ohtani’s teammates were left in awe. First baseman Freddie Freeman called it “absolutely incredible,” adding, “Sometimes you have to check him and make sure he’s not made of steel.” Veteran pitcher Clayton Kershaw echoed the sentiment: “Until you play with him and see it up close, you can’t understand. It’s just a different level.”
The Dodgers’ 26th trip to the World Series marks their fifth pennant in nine seasons. They have lost just one game in this postseason, with their pitching staff allowing no more than a single run per game since the National League Division Series. Alongside Ohtani, the rotation of Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow has been nearly untouchable.
Manager Dave Roberts praised his players and the home crowd after the win. “Before the season started, they said the Dodgers are ruining baseball,” he said with a smile. “Let’s get four more wins and really ruin baseball.”
The Dodgers will face either the Seattle Mariners or the Toronto Blue Jays in the Fall Classic, with Seattle currently leading the American League Championship Series 3-2. No team has successfully defended a World Series title since the New York Yankees’ dynasty two decades ago — a streak the Dodgers now aim to break.
For Kershaw, nearing the end of his illustrious career, this run is particularly meaningful. “I’m just so happy to be part of this team,” he said. “Whether I get to pitch or not, it’s been incredible. We’re having a blast — and we’re not done yet.”
