Shohei Ohtani’s Los Angeles Dodgers are one loss from elimination after losing to the San Diego Padres 6-5 in Tuesday’s Game 3 of their National League Division Series.
Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a broken-bat single and two strikeouts at Petco Park, where the home team took a two-games-to-one series lead.
The Japanese slugger was called out on strikes on a slider from left-hander Tanner Scott in his final at-bat in the eighth.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a single in the third inning of Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego, California, on Oct. 8, 2024. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
“We got back in the game again today after being down by a lot,” Ohtani said. “I think the mood within the team is good. We try not to think we’ve lost two of three. We should simply think about winning the next two.”
The two-time American League MVP is playing in the first postseason of his Major League Baseball career after six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.
Ohtani is 3-for-13 (.231) with a homer, three RBIs and six strikeouts in three games so far.
San Diego Padres fans react after Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers is called out on strikes during the eighth inning in Game 3 of their National League Division Series on Oct. 8, 2024, at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Kyodo)
The Padres erased a 1-0 deficit by scoring six runs in the second inning off Walker Buehler. David Peralta doubled in two runs and Fernando Tatis Jr. capped the big inning with a two-run homer.
Teoscar Hernandez’s grand slam pulled the Dodgers within a run in the third, but the Padres bullpen held the NL West champions to just one hit over the final four innings.
Mookie Betts broke an 0-for-22 postseason slump with a first-inning solo home run that ticked off the glove of leaping left fielder Jurickson Profar, who robbed Betts of a homer in Game 2.
“It’s a beautiful time over here in San Diego,” Tatis said. “It’s a great win for us to get us ahead in the series. Our pitchers have been doing a great job.”
Asked to comment on his fourth home run of this postseason, the 25-year-old star said, “I was just ready for a fastball. The guy (Buehler) was attacking the zone, so I needed to get ready for him.”
San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish (top) reacts to his team’s Game 3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in their National League Division Series on Oct. 8, 2024, at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Kyodo)
