Los Angeles President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman called Shohei Ohtani’s performance in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series “the best performance in postseason history.”
Ohtani had 3 hits in 3 at-bats, 3 home runs, and 3 RBIs, and also walked in his at-bat. He also started the game on the mound and pitched six shutout innings while striking out 10 batters. After the game, Ohtani received the NLCS MVP award.
More news: advance to the World Series: All the highlights of the epic celebration after the NLCS blowout
“I don’t think there’s any question about that,” Friedman said. “Throughout the fourth inning, I texted the Slack thread and said, ‘This is the best four innings a major leaguer has played in postseason history. This is the best four innings ever.'” Then he hit another home run. “The best sixth inning ever. Seven innings.” There is no doubt that it was the best performance in postseason history.
“He wakes up this morning with people asking him questions and 12 hours later he’s standing on the podium as NLCS MVP. That speaks volumes about his game and his talent.”
Before Game 4, Ohtani was struggling at the plate for the . He batted .158 during the postseason, but hadn’t hit a home run since the ‘ playoff opener against the Cincinnati Reds. His comeback in Game 4 is good news for the . It was only a matter of time before he got hot, and it came at the perfect time.
More news: fans will love what Dave Roberts had to say about the World Series right after winning the NLCS
The are back in the World Series and are four wins away from becoming the first team to win back-to-back World Series titles since 1999-2000, when the New York Yankees won their second and third World Series.
The will play either the Seattle Mariners or the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series starting next Friday. The Mariners currently hold a 3-2 lead in the ALCS and could qualify for Sunday’s Fall Classic if they win Game 6.
Photo credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Have you downloaded the new Nation app yet? Click here for Apple users and Click here for Android users It’s part of a redesigned app that gives fans everything they need in one placee. Don’t miss it Live GameCast with play-by-play, news and analysis, Nation podcasts and videos, all the stats you need, and more.