LOS ANGELES, CA — The definition of “On The Brink” is at the threshold, or, on the verge.
That is where the Los Angeles Dodgers were sitting at Friday night, one win away from returning to the Fall Classic, where they could defend their World Series championship from 2024.
The Dodgers celebrating their 2024 World Series championship after defeating the Yankees in last year’s Fall Classic – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
To make matters worse for Milwaukee, the Brewers, down 3-0 in the best of seven series, had to face another monster LA starter in Shohei Ohtani, who has been just as dominant on the mound as the other hurlers in Dodger Blue out there this postseason. The Brewers countered with veteran left-hander and Colombian native, José Quintana, who was 11-7, 3.96 ERA this season and only pitched three innings in the postseason before Game 4 Friday at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers got things started in a hurry when, after a walk to the Brewers’ lead-off batter Brice Turang, Ohtani struck out the next three batters. Then the 31-year-old Japanese two-way superstar began the hitting barrage with a 446-foot bomb deep into the right field pavilion.
The first pitcher to hit a lead-off home run in Major League Baseball postseason history. He was followed by a Mookie Betts single, a Will Smith single, and a Tommy Edman single.
And just like that, the Brewers and Quintana were down 3-0 after one inning.
Everything was going right for LA. Like an inning-ending double play by Kiké Hernández of San Juan, Puerto Rico snagged on a low line drive in left field to throw Turang out at first base.
After Smith and Freddie Freeman led off the third inning with back-to-back singles, Brewers manager Pat Murphy had seen enough of Quintana, who left with a line of two innings pitched, six hits, and three runs, all earned.
Then Ohtani brought the fans of approximately 52,883 out of their seats when he hit a 469-foot monster blast that cleared the right field pavilion roof, making him the first pitcher to hit two home runs in a postseason game and giving LA a 4-0 lead after four innings.
Shohei Ohtani had one of the most historic postseason performances in all of sports Friday night, leading the Dodgers to a Game 4 NLCS win to clinch the NL pennant and head back to the World Series – Image Credit: Emma Sharon/Latino Sports
He was relieved by Alex Vesia after surrendering a leadoff walk and a single in the top of the seventh inning, leaving with a line of six innings pitched, two hits, zero runs, three walks, and 10 strikeouts.
And if that wasn’t enough, Ohtani hit his third home run of the game, a 427-foot shot to left center field—sealing his name forever in the history books as the first pitcher to hit three home runs in a playoff game!
We are probably looking at the greatest performance by a player in any postseason ever. Yes, there have been greater pitching performances, and others have hit three home runs. But never has anyone dominated on the hill and at the plate in the same game of October Baseball.
A show in October by Shohei Ohtani.
“This time around it was my turn to be able to perform,” Ohtani said through his interpreter.
“That was probably the greatest postseason performance of all-time and there’s been a lot of postseason games,” stated LA manager Dave Roberts. “And there’s a reason why he’s the greatest player on the planet. What he did on the mound, what he did with the bat, he created a lot of memories for a lot of people.”
Oh, and by the way, the Dodgers, back-to-back National League champs, won Game 4 of the NLCS by a final score 5-1 to head back to the World Series for the 23rd time in franchise history, clinching their 14th pennant since moving from Brooklyn to Los Angeles , and 26th overall.
Additionally, as Los Angeles celebrated on the field with their families and loved ones, Ohtani was named the NLCS MVP for his performance on both sides—hitting .357 (5-14 with three HR, four RBI & four walks) over the four NLCS games vs. Milwaukee while on the mound, recording 10 strikeouts across six scoreless innings with two hits allowed and three walks.
“To do it in a clinching game at home and he wins the NLCS MVP, it’s pretty special,” Roberts added. “I’m just happy to be able to go along for the ride.”
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