Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a three-run home run in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sept. 19, 2025. (Kyodo)
LOS ANGELES (Kyodo) — Shohei Ohtani turned the game around with his 52nd home run and propelled the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers to their 13th straight postseason Friday, playing a big part in their 6-3 comeback win over the San Francisco Giants.
Dodgers great Clayton Kershaw, who on Thursday announced his retirement at the end of the season, allowed two runs on four hits over 4-1/3 innings and left to a standing ovation at Dodger Stadium before Ohtani sparked a four-run fifth.
With two runners on and two outs, the two-way star connected on a 2-2 outside four-seamer for an opposite-field three-run shot off Robbie Ray (11-8) to give his team a 4-2 lead.
Mookie Betts followed by also going deep for a solo run and Andy Pages doubled in another in the sixth.
“It’s huge to end a memorable day by grinding out the win,” Ohtani said as he paid tribute to the 37-year-old Kershaw, who made his last regular-season home start for the club he has spent his entire 18-year Major League Baseball career with.
The lefty has won two World Series, three Cy Young Awards and the 2014 National League MVP Award.
Ohtani’s third homer in four games has brought him within two of the 54 homers he amassed last season when he won the National League home run title for the second year running. He is now one behind Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies for this year’s honor.
“I tried to get a contact on the pitch anyhow, and keep it fair,” Ohtani said. “I got a proper swing on it and that was positive.”
Shota Imanaga gave up four runs, including three solo shots, over five innings but did not get a decision as the Chicago Cubs lost to the Cincinnati Reds 7-4.