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Shohei Ohtani does it all in otherworldly night to send Dodgers back to World Series
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- Shohei Ohtani does it all in otherworldly night to send Dodgers back to World Series
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LOS ANGELES — The Sho' on the mound was great, and the one at the plate even better . All of it Friday spelled maybe the most dominant single-game performance by a player in postseason history.
Shohei Ohtani owned the Brewers from the batter's box and pitching rubber, sending the Dodgers to the World Series with a 5-1 victory in Game 4 of the NLCS to complete the series sweep.
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Ohtani blasted three homers and fired six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts in helping the Dodgers secure a second straight NL pennant and fifth in nine years. Ohtani, who was named MVP of the series, became the first player in MLB history, regular season or postseason, with a three-homer game as a hitter with 10 strikeouts as a pitcher.
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh inning during game four of the NLCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
"That was probably the greatest postseason performance of all time," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "There's been a lot of postseason games and there is a reason why he is the greatest player on the planet."
The Dodgers, who are 9-1 this postseason, are within four victories of becoming the first team since the Yankees in 2000 to win a second straight World Series title. The Yankees won three straight titles from 1998-2000.
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The Dodgers will face either the Mariners or Blue Jays in the World Series beginning Friday. If the Mariners advance, the series will open at Dodger Stadium. Otherwise, the series will open in Toronto .
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts in the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers during game four of the NLCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Ohtani's gem from the mound was just the latest by a Dodgers pitcher. Overall, the Dodgers allowed just four runs in the four games. Blake Snell 's shutout over eight innings in Game 1 — in which he faced the minimum 24 batters — set the standard, but Yoshinobu Yamamoto , Tyler Glasnow and Ohtani all had superb outings.
"I really focused on to make sure I am an effective starting pitcher," Ohtani said of his night through an interpreter.
Max Muncy and Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers react after the final out to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 in game four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images
He entered the day hitting just .158 this postseason.
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"This time around, it was my turn to be able to perform," Ohtani said. "I think looking back over the course of the entire postseason, I haven't performed to the expectation, but I think we saw today what the left-handed hitters could do."
Ohtani pitched into the seventh but was removed after Christian Yelich walked to begin the inning and William Contreras singled. Alex Vesia entered and got three outs without a run scoring to keep Ohtani's line unblemished, with six scoreless innings. Ohtani allowed two hits and walked three over 100 pitches, departing to chants of "MVP."
In sweeping the series, the Dodgers hardly bludgeoned the baseball, outscoring the Brewers 15-4.
Jose Quintana lasted just two-plus innings for the Brewers and was removed after allowing the first two batters to reach in the third. The lefty, who spent the previous two seasons with the Mets , allowed three earned runs on six hits with one walk.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki and catcher Will Smith celebrates their win against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of baseball's National League Championship Series, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Los Angeles. AP
Ohtani's homer leading off in the first got the Dodgers started before Mookie Betts and Will Smith delivered consecutive singles. Tommy Edman 's RBI single extended the lead and Teoscar Hernández 's groundout placed the Brewers in a 3-0 hole.
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Ohtani launched a 469-foot rocket for a homer in the fourth that gave the Dodgers a 4-0 lead. The two-homer game was Ohtani's second this postseason — he also accomplished the feat in the Dodgers' victory over the Reds in Game 1 of the NL wild-card series.
Trevor Megill surrendered Ohtani's third homer of the night, a blast to left-center in the seventh — after Ohtani had been removed as a pitcher in the top of the inning to widen the lead to 5-0.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) celebrates on the podium after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in game four of the NLCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates with teammates in the clubhouse after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in game four of the NLCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Ohtani became the 11th player in MLB postseason history with a three-homer game. Chris Taylor was the last Dodgers player to accomplish the feat, with three homers against the Braves in Game 5 of the NLCS in 2021.
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Roki Sasaki entered in a non-save situation in the ninth and got the final three outs, commencing the celebration as "I Love LA" blared through the stadium speakers. The Dodgers also clinched their World Series berth last year at home, beating the Mets in Game 6 of the NLCS.
"They said before the season that the Dodgers are ruining baseball," Roberts said , referring to the team's $396 million payroll. "Let's get four more wins and really ruin baseball."
