THURSDAY, SEPT. 18
Game 1 of 4 vs. San Francisco
Yoshinobu Yamamoto continued his dominant run in the opening game against the Giants, but the Dodgers batters continued to give him very little in the way of run support as the Boys in Blue pulled out the victory 2-1. In his last four starts, Yamamoto has given up no more than one run per game. In September, Yamamoto has an ERA of 0.86; in three starts, he has yielded a total of three hits, yet he doesn’t have a victory to his name in that timeframe.
Ohtani had two of the Dodgers’ five hits, doubling in the fifth and eighth innings.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH
Game 2 of 4 vs. San Francisco
In what was likely Clayton Kershaw’s final regular-season home start, the Dodgers secured a meaningful victory against the Giants, 6-3. The Dodgers trailed 2-1 going into the bottom of the fifth inning, when Ohtani and Mookie Betts hit back-to-back home runs to put the Dodgers in command 5-2. With the win, the Dodgers clinched a playoff berth.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 20
Game 3 of 4 vs. San Francisco
After falling into an early 4-0 hole, the Dodgers fought back to secure a hard-earned 7-5 victory against the Giants to take the first three games of their four-game series. Ohtani’s home run, his fourth in the past five games, put him in a tie with Kyle Schwarber for the National League lead. Ohtani finished the game going 1 for 3 with an RBI, two walks, and two runs scored.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 21
Game 4 of 4 vs. San Francisco
The Giants salvaged the final game of the series against the Dodgers, 3-1, although their poor series showing against L.A. likely cost them a shot at the postseason. Dodger starter Emmet Sheehan pitched brilliantly, but struggling Blake Trienen came on in relief and proceeded to give up three runs in the eighth, racking up a blown save and loss. Ohtani went 1 for 4 with a single in the sixth.
– Miles Anderson