Dodgers News: Shohei Ohtani Weighs In on His First Career Playoff Game

The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t want history to repeat itself on Saturday night in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres.

Shohei Ohtani’s game-tying blast got the offense going and the Dodgers walked away with a 7-5 win to take an early 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Nervous energy could be felt from the top deck down to the field when San Diego took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. However, Ohtani allowed everyone breathing room when he launched a three-run shot into the right field pavilion in just his second postseason at-bat.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 in his first MLB postseason game.

“I could really feel the intensity of the stadium before the game began, and I thoroughly enjoyed it,” Ohtani added through interpreter Will Ireton. “It’s hard to compare, but I’ve played at this stadium the entire year and was able to really feel the intensity of the stadium.”

Ohtani knew it was gone the second it left his bat chucking it and letting out a scream of emotion.

According to MLB’s Sarah Langs, entering Saturday the Dodgers were 0-14 in the postseason when trailing by three-plus runs through the first inning.

They also didn’t have Ohtani for any of those games.

In their last two postseason outings, both concluding in the National League Division Series, the Dodgers acknowledged their lack of fight. They were hit hard first by division rivals in both series and failed to respond effectively.

Saturday was a different story as the Dodgers punched back and never game up.

Freddie Freeman exhibited impressive toughness, playing through a severe sprain in his right ankle while recording two hits and stealing a base. Meanwhile, Miguel Rojas made a crucial defensive play in the eighth inning, despite battling a torn left adductor.

“We all know that we’re facing a really good team over there, but matching the intensity for us on our end, we all know the type of game that we play, who we are as a team and that we are the Dodgers,” Rojas said. “But at the same time, we have a team over there that every time they play us, they play us like it’s the last game that they’re going to play. I think it speaks volumes of this team and what we were able to do.”

Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

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