in a high-octane start to the National League Division Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off a nail-biting 7-5 victory against the San Diego Padres at a raucous Dodger Stadium. The atmosphere was electric, with blue flags flying high and the crowd roaring as the game unfolded. But the true magic of the night? Shohei Ohtani’s explosive postseason debut.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Dodgers—Manny Machado had the Padres surging ahead early, launching a three-run homer in the first inning that silenced the home crowd. But Ohtani, ever the showstopper, turned the tide in the bottom of the second. With one swing, he blasted a three-run homer, leveling the score and sending the stadium into a frenzy. The message was clear: the Dodgers weren’t going down easy.
Blake Treinen took center stage in the eighth inning with the bases loaded, facing Donovan Solano. Under pressure, Treinen delivered a critical strikeout, extinguishing the Padres’ threat. But the drama didn’t end there. In the ninth, with the tying runs on base, Treinen stared down Machado, delivering yet again to secure the win.
MLB icons Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and David Ortiz couldn’t hide their admiration on the postgame show. A-Rod was in awe, shaking his head as he said, “This guy is unbelievable.” Jeter, still baffled by the Padres’ decision, added, “Why would you pitch to him with first base open?” Rodriguez backed him up, “Second base, third base—I don’t care. If there’s a base open, you walk him.”
Ohtani’s star power was on full display, proving why he’s one of the most feared hitters in the league. His debut homer not only evened the score but also shifted the momentum entirely, showing that when Ohtani’s at the plate, pitchers better think twice.
