LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run homer in his postseason debut, Teoscar Hernandez's two-run single gave Los Angeles its first lead in a playoff game in two years and the Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 7-5 in their National League Division Series opener Saturday.
Manny Machado's two-run homer off Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, also making his first playoff appearance, put Los Angeles in an early 3-0 hole.
Ohtani quickly bailed out the Dodgers with his two-out homer that tied it 3-all in the second inning. The Japanese superstar went deep with Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax looking on and fans chanting «MVP!
MVP!» His shot traveled 372 feet to right field, with many in the sellout crowd of 53,028 recording it all on their phones. San Diego went ahead 5-3 before the Dodgers rallied with three runs in the fourth.