Shohei Ohtani’s Historic Homer Powers Dodgers to NLCS Game 3 Victory
Shohei Ohtani continues to rewrite the history books, delivering yet another jaw-dropping performance in Game 3 of the NLCS, where his eighth-inning, three-run home run was a moment for the ages. The towering shot, which sealed the Dodgers' 8-0 victory over the Mets, not only pushed his team to a 2-1 series lead but also marked a historic personal achievement for Ohtani. He became the first player in recorded history to hit safely 17 times in 20 at-bats with runners in scoring position across both the regular season and postseason. Before this, the record stood at 16 hits, set by Dodgers legend Frank Howard back in 1962.
The moonshot came at a pivotal moment in the game. With two runners on base and one out in the eighth inning, Ohtani stepped up to face Mets reliever Tylor Megill. Until that point, he had been a paradox this postseason—struggling with the bases empty, but transforming into an unstoppable force with runners on base. The crowd held its breath as Ohtani connected with Megill's pitch. The ball rocketed off his bat at an astounding 115.9 mph, sailing 397 feet over the right-field foul pole. Statcast confirmed what fans witnessed: Ohtani’s homer wasn’t just about power, it was precision—just barely staying fair.
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This hit was not only monumental for Ohtani but also decisive for the Dodgers, who, up to that point, had relied on strong pitching from Walker Buehler and the bullpen to keep the Mets at bay. Buehler, while not at his most efficient, threw four scoreless innings before handing the game over to the relief staff. Ohtani’s homer provided the breathing room the Dodgers needed to preserve their bullpen arms for future games.
The postseason has been a tale of two extremes for Ohtani. into this at-bat, he was 0-for-21 with the bases empty but a staggering 7-for-9 with runners on base, including two home runs. This split underscores Ohtani’s uncanny ability to perform under pressure, delivering when it matters most. As Hall of Famer John Smoltz aptly said on the FS1 broadcast, "Welcome to October, where everything is magnified."
With this win, the Dodgers are now two games away from advancing to the World Series. Ohtani’s clutch hitting, alongside contributions from teammates like Kiké Hernández and Max Muncy, who also homered, has made the Dodgers’ postseason run one for the ages. As Game 4 approaches, the Mets will have to figure out how to stop Ohtani’s momentum if they hope to stay alive in the series.
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