MLB Roundup: Shohei Ohtani Sparks Dodgers’ Rally vs. Padres

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (16) and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) react after scoring a home run against the San Diego Padres during game one of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Oct. 5, 2024. Kiyoshi Mio/Reuters

Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run home run in the first playoff game of his career and the host Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for a 7–5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday in Game 1 of their National League Division Series.

Teoscar Hernandez delivered a go-ahead two-run single in the fourth as the Dodgers ended a six-game postseason losing streak that dated back to the 2022 NLDS, where they were eliminated by the Padres.

Five Los Angeles relievers combined for six scoreless innings, with Blake Treinen going 1 2/3 innings to earn the save, ending the game with a strikeout of Manny Machado with two runners on base. Ryan Brasier (1–0) earned the win by giving up one hit over 1 2/3 innings.

Machado hit a two-run home run in the first inning and Xander Bogaerts had a two-run double in the third, but the Padres lost their third consecutive game against the Dodgers going back to the regular season.

Yankees 6, Royals 5

Alex Verdugo hit a tiebreaking RBI single with two outs in the seventh inning to lead host New York past Kansas City in Game 1 of their American League Division Series.

Verdugo reached base three times, doing so six days after delivering a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth of the Yankees’ regular-season finale. Michael Lorenzen (0–1) gave up Verdugo’s game-winner on Saturday to take the loss, while Clay Holmes (1–0) killed a Royals rally in the sixth and eventually got the win.

Gleyber Torres homered for the Yankees in the third, and MJ Melendez went deep for the Royals the following inning. New York scored twice on bases-loaded walks in the fifth to take a 4–3 lead before Kansas City’s Garrett Hampson singled home two runs in the sixth.

Guardians 7, Tigers 0

Lane Thomas slammed a three-run homer to cap a five-run first inning as Cleveland jumped all over visiting Detroit in the opener of their ALDS.

David Fry added a two-run double in the sixth inning as Cleveland cooled down the sixth-seeded Tigers, who stunned the No. 3 Houston Astros in the wild-card round. The No. 2 Guardians had a first-round bye.

Detroit had just four hits, recording none against the Guardians’ bullpen in 4 1/3 innings. Cade Smith (1–0) struck out all four batters he faced to get the win. The Tigers used Tyler Holton (0–1) as an opener for the second straight game, and the strategy was quickly foiled when he didn’t retire any of the four batters he faced.

Mets 6, Phillies 2

Blanked for seven innings by Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler, New York erupted for six runs against the host Phillies’ bullpen in the final two innings to take Game 1 of an NLDS.

Brandon Nimmo’s RBI single off Matt Strahm snapped a 1–1 tie in the eighth after Mark Vientos delivered the tying run with a run-scoring single of his own. Pete Alonso, J.D. Martinez and Starling Marte also drove in runs in the inning for the Mets, who came from behind in the late innings for the third time in six days.

Kyle Schwarber hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first for the Phillies. Wheeler allowed a single hit over seven innings before giving way to Jeff Hoffman (0–1) to start the eighth. Reed Garrett (1–0) pitched two scoreless innings of relief for the win.