LOS ANGELES — They are two moments from the past week that should be added to Shohei Ohtani’s highlight reel.
In Game 1 of this National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres, he hit a three-run home run to tie the score in his second postseason at-bat and fired his bat away, seeming to match the 111.8 mph exit velocity of the baseball.
In Game 4, he was tagged out at home plate after trying to score from second base when a ground ball went off Padres third baseman Manny Machado’s glove – but hit the umpire and dropped close enough for Machado to recover.
After the play, cameras caught Ohtani in the dugout, reviewing the play on an iPad and angrily shouting (including an English vulgarity).
Asked about that reaction Thursday, Ohtani said with a sly smile, “I totally forgot about it” to laughter from the media.
Both moments were in keeping with the greater emotion Ohtani has exhibited over the past month, reveling in his first chance to play meaningful games in September – and any games in October.
“Playing a regular-season game and playing a playoff game is different,” Ohtani said Thursday when asked about his more frequent shows of emotion this season. “And I think a lot of players end up … showing their emotions. So I feel like I’m part of that.
“I’m not surprised by it. I do think it’s part of who I am as well. Obviously being respectful and mindful of the opponent. I think it’s an important part of the game.”
In the first four postseason games of his career, Ohtani is 4 for 16 with that Game 1 home run and four RBIs. All four of his hits (and one walk) have come with runners on base.
“There’s nothing specifically that I’m doing with runners on base versus not,” he said. “When there’s runners on base, obviously there’s going to be more pressure on the pitcher, and I think it’s been good that I’ve been able to add onto that.”
Yu Darvish never let Ohtani get to the plate with runners on base in Game 2. Ohtani was 0 for 3 with a strikeout against Darvish, who he calls his “childhood hero.” Ohtani and the Dodgers will try to solve Darvish again in Game 5.
“He doesn’t rely on one plan,” Ohtani said of Darvish, who threw a seven-pitch mix at the Dodgers in Game 2. “So in that sense, for us as hitters, we have to be able to adjust. That’s what makes him good and crafty as well.”
Darvish has been good and crafty indeed against the Dodgers since leaving them in free agency following the 2017 season. He has made 17 starts against the Dodgers since then with a 2.35 ERA – including two postseason starts in 2022 and this year.
When Darvish takes the mound Friday night, however, it will recall another time he took the mound in a postseason elimination game at Dodger Stadium. He lasted just 10 batters and allowed five runs in 1⅔ innings in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series as the Dodgers lost to the Houston Astros.
“Obviously I remember about that time, but it’s, like, how many years ago was that?” Darvish said when the memory was revived Thursday. “So there’s nothing special that I think about that time. I don’t focus on that time, basically. Plus, I am wearing a different uniform right now, so …”
The Dodgers have talked about not being “bullied by the fastball” as they felt they had been in their two previous NLDS defeats. Darvish presents a very different challenge, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“Darvish (is) certainly aggressive with his spin,” Roberts said. “So I think that it’s still kind of – ball in zone, be aggressive, shorten your swing because anything’s in play with Yu in any count.
“I think for us it’s just being ready to hit. He doesn’t give in. But when he throws his slider, curveball in the strike zone or makes a mistake with the fastball, we’ve got to be ready to hit it. I do feel if we can put pressure on him early, that puts us in a good position.”
