‘Ohhhhhtani!’ Shohei Ohtani’s Legendary Three-Homer, 10-Strikeout Game Sends Dodgers to the World Series

The roars began in the first inning — and never stopped.
On a historic Friday night at Dodger Stadium, Shohei Ohtani redefined greatness once again. The two-way superstar struck out 10 over six scoreless innings and hit three towering home runs, propelling the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5–1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers and a four-game sweep in the National League Championship Series.

From the very first pitch, Ohtani owned the night. He struck out the side in the top of the first, then launched a 446-foot leadoff home run in the bottom half — becoming the first pitcher in MLB history to hit a leadoff homer in any game, regular or postseason.

Then he did it again.
And again.

In the fourth inning, Ohtani smashed a 469-foot blast over the right-field pavilion. By the seventh, after six dominant innings on the mound, he returned to the plate and belted a third home run — this one 427 feet to dead center — completing one of the most astonishing individual performances baseball has ever seen.

A Night of Unmatched Greatness

The crowd at Dodger Stadium erupted in waves of awe and disbelief — every swing, every strikeout greeted with chants of “MVP! MVP!”

Ohtani’s final line:

• Pitching: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 10 K
• Batting: 3-for-4, 3 HR, 3 RBI

No one — not Babe Ruth, not Reggie Jackson, not anyone — had ever combined pitching dominance and offensive firepower at this scale in a postseason game.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts put it simply: “That was probably the greatest postseason performance of all time.”

The win sealed the Dodgers’ fifth World Series berth in nine years and their second consecutive appearance. With Ohtani leading the way, Los Angeles now seeks to become the first team in 25 years to repeat as champions — a feat last accomplished by the 1999–2000 Yankees.

From Slump to Supernova

Ironically, Ohtani entered Game 4 in a rare postseason slump, batting just .158 and struggling to find his rhythm at the plate. But during Thursday’s workout, he took unusual on-field batting practice — and launched a ball off the right-field roof. It was a sign of what was coming.

“I was expecting nothing short of incredible, and he definitely surpassed that,” said teammate Max Muncy. “Unbelievable. Wow.”

Even Ohtani’s typically modest demeanor couldn’t mask the satisfaction of proving himself once again.
“This time around it was my turn to be able to perform,” he said through his interpreter. “I haven’t performed to the expectation [before this], but I think today we saw what the left-handed hitters could do.”

History and Humanity Collide

For all his quiet politeness off the field, Ohtani burns with intensity on it. His Game 4 masterpiece wasn’t just a clinic — it was a symphony of dominance, humility, and joy. When he left the mound in the seventh, Dodger Stadium rose as one, organist Dieter Ruehle playing “Jesus Christ Superstar” as fans roared his name into the night sky.

Even Roberts, known for understatement, couldn’t hide his awe. “Whatever you don’t expect,” he said, “expect him to do it.”

The Dodgers now await the winner of the Seattle Mariners vs. Toronto Blue Jays ALCS matchup, with Game 1 of the World Series set for October 24.

And if Friday night was any indication, the baseball world — from Los Angeles to Tokyo — is witnessing something more than history.

It’s witnessing immortality.

All together now… Ohhhhhhtani!

‍