2024 MLB Playoffs: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers Offensive Rally vs. Padres Win NLDS Game 1

LOS ANGELES – No one knew which version of the Dodgers would show up in Game 1 of the NLDS. The Padres, who edged the Atlanta Braves in the wild-card round, had plenty of power and entered this series with a quiet but noticeable swagger. LA, on the other hand, was looking for hers.

With the Dodgers announcing that longtime standout Clayton Kershaw would be sidelined for the remainder of the season and the unknown status of first baseman Freddie Freeman due to a recent ankle sprain, the mood before first pitch Saturday wasn't particularly good.

They didn't get any better during the Padres' three-run first inning, and when Manny Machado's huge two-run shot gave San Diego an early 3-0 lead, it not only felt like the tone of the game, but what it was the tone of the game This series was discontinued. The Dodgers had to react – and quickly.

An inning later, they got it thanks to the bat of Shohei Ohtani.

In a season filled with injuries and uncertainty in the starting lineup, the Dodgers have always been able to rely on their ability to score. And with their 7-5 win over the Padres in Game 1, LA's star-studded lineup sent a much-needed message: This team, as hurting as it may be, is not to be underestimated.

The Dodgers used two players in the second inning and you could feel the energy in the stadium beginning to simmer. Then Ohtani stepped to the plate and tried to give his team a much-needed boost.

And in one swing, he did it, smashing a 97 mph fastball, undoubtedly securing a three-run home run that tied the game. When Ohtani threw his bat to the side and let out a scream on his way to first base, it was clear he had turned the game around for the Padres.

“It just gave us momentum again and gave us life,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said afterward. “And I think from the first pitch, the fans were just engaged and on board. … I felt that energy. And I think Shohei benefits from that.”

Ohtani said: “I'm really happy that I can tie the game in this situation and get a hit against a really good pitcher. (Padres starter Dylan Cease) is one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes… I was able to get to (the fastball) and I was glad I did.”

“Listen, he’s a good player,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said of Ohtani. “He’s obviously done some really special things this year. I just think it's about execution. You have to be even better against really good players.”

The Padres responded with two more runs in the third inning, but no matter. It was as if the LA lineup had gained new confidence thanks to that one strike from Ohtani, and the crowd was now energized, alert and unfazed.

In the fourth game, LA managed to take the lead again. Three consecutive singles by Tommy Edman, Miguel Rojas and Ohtani, followed by a wild pitch, forced another Dodgers run. Then there was an intentional walk by Mookie Betts and a groundout by Freddie Freeman before Teoscar Hernandez hit a two-run single of his own, ending the game 6-5 and putting the Dodgers on top for good.

“It's really difficult for a playoff team to get into the first game of the postseason and feel comfortable there, especially after a long layoff,” Ohtani said afterward. “But I think everyone really contributed today — the whole team, especially the bullpen.”

The bullpen actually delivered for LA, throwing six scoreless innings after Yamamoto gave up five earned runs in his three innings.

“I appreciate and love the support,” said Yamamoto, who made his MLB postseason debut and made just his fifth start since returning from a shoulder injury. “I’m so glad we won as a team in the end.”

With Ohtani as a spark, the Dodgers started this series against San Diego with a bang. What could have been a slap in the face for the Padres instead turned into a home win that they were able to secure without a great performance from their starter.

Make no mistake: This Dodgers team is built on offense, and in Game 1 they showed exactly how they won 98 games in the regular season and why this lineup has a chance even without consistent pitching every night. Ohtani, Betts and Freemen get much of the hype, but Saturday's win showed how strong LA's lineup is when it's firing on all cylinders. Six of the Dodgers' nine starters recorded hits in the game, four of them multiple times, and every starter reached base at least once.

“It's just hard not to panic when you're behind, especially in a postseason game,” Roberts said after the game. “You see a guy like Cease who has really great skill, and that's the hard part when you're able to grind with bats. … We did that all night, ran up the pitch count, took him out of the game, went to their pen and looked at a few guys. So that’s a credit to our boys.

“It's experience. It’s about trusting the process.”

The Dodgers are now 70-13 this year when scoring five or more runs. While their pitching has been less than reliable this season, the offense's ability to score in volumes – even and especially in the postseason when scoring runs is difficult – is a huge advantage over most teams.

Yes, the Dodgers will need better performance from their starters, but the safety net of this lineup certainly makes things easier.

“The first inning certainly wasn’t ideal as far as batting first,” Roberts said. “But it was nice to see us show resilience, take a hit and respond the way we did. … It really speaks to the character of this group. …

“We have to fight and we did that tonight.”