Shohei Ohtani absolutely crushed a three-run home run in Game 4 of the NLCS on Thursday, finally snapping a nearly two-month drought and giving the Dodgers a much-needed jolt. It was the first time the four-time MVP went deep since August 18, and you could practically see the weight lift off his shoulders.
Ohtani’s Game 4 Blast Was Straight Fire
Okay, so Dave Roberts liked Ohtani’s swings in Game 3, and he put the guy back at the top of the lineup for Game 4. Smart move, right? Ohtani faced former Dodger Dustin May with two runners on base in the second inning. What happened next was pure Ohtani magic from his healthy days: a monstrous three-run shot that instantly turned a one-run game into a four-run lead for the Dodgers. We’re talking an epic bat flip, arms thrown up, the whole nine yards. Ohtani doesn’t always wear his emotions on his sleeve, but this was perhaps his most meaningful moment of the season, a pure outburst of celebration.
Nearly Two Months Of Quiet Bat, Then BOOM
Let’s be real, this home run wasn’t just big; it was a statistical head-scratcher that finally got erased. Before Thursday, Ohtani hadn’t gone yard since August 18. That’s nearly two months, people! For a dude who blasted 55 home runs in 2025, going 25 consecutive games without a dinger, and only racking up 1 RBI in that entire span, is just… baffling. Yeah, he spent about two weeks on the injured list in September with a knee issue, and then had five days off waiting for their NLDS opponent. But still, the numbers were wild. Then, in one swing, he quickly tripled that RBI total. That’s Ohtani potential, right there.
So, is this the moment? Can one swing, even from a four-time MVP hitting to his potential, spark a historic comeback for the Dodgers? Time will absolutely tell. But you know that home run, that bat flip, it injected some serious life. What happens next? The Dodgers need to carry that energy into the next game and see if Ohtani can keep that magic going.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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