Shohei Ohtani showcased his exceptional talent by hitting two home runs and equaling a 119-year-old MLB record with four extra-base hits in Game 3 of the World Series on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. Ohtani’s remarkable performance included four hits in the first seven innings and drawing five consecutive walks in the epic 18-inning game, becoming the first player in 83 years to reach base nine times in a game, especially in the postseason. The game ended with the Dodgers prevailing 6-5 on Freddie Freeman’s walk-off home run in the 18th inning.
Expressing his focus on the team’s victory, Ohtani stated through his interpreter, “What matters the most is we won. And what I accomplished today is in the context of this game, and what matters the most is we flip the page and play the next game.” Following Freeman’s game-winning homer, Ohtani is set to start on the mound for the Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series.
Ohtani’s outstanding performance included a ground-rule double, a solo home run, an RBI double, and another solo homer, totaling four extra-base hits in the game. He became the first player to be intentionally walked four times in a postseason game, falling just one short of the all-time MLB record for intentional passes.
With his phenomenal display, Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to achieve three multi-homer games in a single postseason, closing in on the record for postseason home runs set by Randy Arozarena. Additionally, Ohtani joined a prestigious list of players to record four extra-base hits in a World Series game, a feat only accomplished by Frank Isbell in 1906.
Ohtani’s stellar performance captivated the crowd at Dodger Stadium, solidifying his importance to the team. With six hits and five RBIs in the first three games of the World Series, Ohtani continues to deliver exceptional results on both sides of the game.