LOS ANGELES -- Just when you think you've finally seen it all from Shohei Ohtani, he finds yet another way to make history -- and then another … and another.
Ohtani put on perhaps his most impressive show yet in the Dodgers’ 5-1 pennant-clinching victory over the Brewers in Game 4 of National League Championship Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Even if you entirely ignore his pitching gem -- 10 strikeouts in six-plus scoreless innings -- Ohtani’s trio of homers put him in exclusive postseason company.
There will be plenty made of his pitching exploits and the all-around greatness of his historic evening that netted him NLCS MVP honors, so here we’re just going to focus on his three home runs -- each one remarkable in its own right.
Home run No. 1
Projected distance: 446 feet
Exit velocity: 116.5 mph
After recording three strikeouts in the top of the first inning, Ohtani -- who quickly swapped his glove and cap for a bat and helmet without even entering the third-base dugout -- promptly smashed a leadoff home run in the bottom half.
That made Ohtani the first pitcher in MLB history to hit a leadoff home run in either the regular season or the postseason. It was also the first home run by any Dodgers pitcher in postseason history.
Despite all the firsts, Ohtani's leadoff shot off Brewers starter Jose Quintana still had a bit of a familiar feel to it. That's because it was exactly one year ago to the day that Ohtani hit a leadoff home run ... off Quintana (then with the Mets) ... in Game 4 of the NLCS. Per Elias, Ohtani is the fourth player to homer off the same pitcher on the same calendar day in multiple postseasons, joining Justin Turner (off Max Scherzer, Oct. 7, 2016 and 2019), Manny Ramirez (off Cole Hamels, Oct. 15, 2008 and 2009) and Dusty Baker (off Steve Carlton, Oct. 8, 1977 and 1983).
Ohtani entered Friday just 3-for-29 (.103) since the start of the NLDS. He had not homered since his two-homer game in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series on Sept. 30. He quickly put an end to that drought with his third career postseason leadoff home run. That's tied with Derek Jeter and Jimmy Rollins for the second most in MLB history, trailing only Kyle Schwarber (five).
“I just knew that he's just too talented, and it's not like the moment's ever too big for him,” said manager Dave Roberts. “So, with players like that -- with that combination -- you just know that it's going to happen at some point.”
Home run No. 2
Projected distance: 469 feet
Exit velocity: 116.9 mph
The reactions to this one said it all.
Brewers catcher William Contreras didn’t even give the ball a look after it left Ohtani’s bat. Pitcher Chad Patrick hung his head on the mound and didn’t bother to turn around.
Meanwhile, Dodgers teammate Freddie Freeman stared in disbelief with his hands atop his head as he watched the ball sail over the roof of the Right Field Pavilion and clear out of Dodger Stadium.
“Shohei, oh my God,” Freeman said on TBS after the game. “I'm still speechless.”
Ohtani became the seventh player to hit a home run out of Dodger Stadium, and just the second Dodgers player to do so, joining Mike Piazza (Sept. 21, 1997).
Even Roberts, who has seen Ohtani do just about everything imaginable on a baseball field over the past few years, appeared to let out an, ‘Oh, wow!’ from the top step of the third-base dugout.
“How far he hit this one tonight surprised me,” Roberts said. “ … The velocity of that one was pretty impressive.”
Like Freeman, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was left hardly able to speak.
"Just mouth agape,” Friedman said. “Eyes wide, mouth agape. Just in awe, shock."
Max Muncy, though, had plenty to say about it.
“I don’t know what I saw today. That was beyond incredible,” Muncy said. “The first home run, I didn’t think he could top that, then he hits one literally out of the stadium. … I’ve played a lot of games here. I’ve never seen a ball go that far.
“That’s the farthest ball I’ve ever seen hit. Just … wow. I just feel truly blessed to be on the field for that performance today.”
Home run No. 3
Projected distance: 427 feet
Exit velocity: 113.6 mph
Shortly after walking off the mound to a standing ovation with no outs in the top of the seventh, Ohtani once again sent the sellout crowd into a frenzy when he teed off for home run No. 3 in the bottom half.
Ohtani became just the 12th player (and 13th instance) with a three-homer game in the postseason. No pitcher had ever had even a multihomer game in the playoffs.
One of those other dozen players is teammate Kiké Hernández, who hit three homers in Game 5 of the 2017 NLCS against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
“My homers were just right here,” said Hernández, whose three homers were all less than 400 feet. “And his homers went really, really far. So, he got to enjoy every one of them.”