PHOENIX -- In two seasons in Dodger blue, Shohei Ohtani has already made his mark on the record books of one of the most storied franchises in baseball.
Ohtani launched his career-high-tying 54th homer of the season with a two-run blast into Chase Field's right-field pool in Thursday afternoon's division-clinching 8-0 win over the D-backs. It also matched the franchise's single-season home run record, which Ohtani set last year.
Later that day, as the Dodgers celebrated their 12th NL West title in 13 seasons, Ohtani's teammates broke out in an "M-V-P!" chant in a visitors' clubhouse drenched with champagne and beer, echoing the chorus that Ohtani often hears both at home and on the road alike.
Ohtani's splash shot was just one part of a deluge of Dodgers offense in the first four innings of the series finale in Arizona. His long ball was followed three batters later by Freddie Freeman's second of the game, another two-run homer that put L.A. ahead 8-0.
Ohtani came to the plate with one runner on in the top of the fourth. With a one-handed swing, the two-way star flicked a Nabil Crismatt changeup that was well below the zone a Statcast-projected 406 feet over the right-field fence.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Ohtani's 108 homers in his first two seasons with the Dodgers are the third most by a Major Leaguer in his first two seasons with a franchise. Only Babe Ruth (113 for the Yankees from 1920-21) and Alex Rodriguez (109, Rangers, 2001-02) have more.
Ohtani has had quite the month of September, hitting .306 with a 1.151 OPS at the plate while striking out 18 across 14 2/3 scoreless innings in three starts on the mound.
When Ohtani goes, so do the Dodgers. And they feel that they are collectively playing their best baseball, just in time for what they hope will be an extended postseason run.
"If you win the division and you’re not playing good baseball, guys aren’t trusting one another, it doesn’t really matter," manager Dave Roberts said. "Yeah, we won the division. But on top of that, more important, we’re playing good baseball. You’ve got to pitch it, catch it, have good at-bats and the rest of it will take care of itself."