Shohei Ohtani’s three-run moonshot secured an 8-0 victory for the Dodgers against the Mets in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series. Dodgers backup catcher, Austin Barnes, motivated Ohtani to hit the ball over the fence, leading to Ohtani’s eighth inning impressive hit. The home run extended Ohtani’s bizarre postseason splits and eased tension for manager Dave Roberts by not having to use high-leverage relievers Evan Phillips and Daniel Hudson.
Despite not having recorded a hit in his 22 solo at-bats, Ohtani has managed seven hits from his nine at-bats with runners aboard. The postseason tournament is Ohtani’s first, and he insisted that his recent dip in production wouldn’t change his approach to the game. Manager Dave Roberts suggested that Ohtani was swinging at pitches outside the strike zone too frequently and appeared to struggle against Mets’ starter Sean Mananea in Game 2, but Ohtani shrugged these observations off, asserting he felt fine.
Ohtani’s performance in Game 3 validated his confidence. Despite grounding out on the first pitch, he was able to take a walk when Mets starter Luis Severino failed to locate the zone. Ohtani later was set off balance by Mets reliever Reed Garrett’s 0-2 cutter. But everything changed when Ohtani followed walks by Will Smith and Hernández who had singled with two out. Ohtani took an 0-1 cutter from Mets reliever Tylor Megill for an inside hit, sending the ball into the right field. His home run was estimated to have been hit off the bat at 115.9 mph, for an estimated distance of 397 feet.
The home run proved beneficial for the Dodgers’ plan for the endgame. Roberts, with a four-point lead at the beginning of the eighth inning, used Ben Casparius for the final two innings after the Dodgers scored an extra three runs. The bullpen is expected to be at full strength for Game 4, allowing the Dodgers to tackle the series without giving Mets hitters like Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos, and Pete Alonso multiple looks at the same relievers.
Even with the relative dip in his performance, Ohtani did not fail to impress. His swing during the game played a key role in silencing the ballpark and rallying his team. The Dodgers were able to gain the upper hand and Ohtani was praised for restoring his confidence, proving once again his ability to inspire awe with his performance on the field. Ohtani’s success in the game not only boosted his personal morale, but also successfully changed the dynamics for the Dodgers, helping lift the entire team performance.
