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Shohei Ohtani did something never before seen in MLB history Friday night.
The Japanese phenom hit three home runs and pitched six scoreless innings, leading the Dodgers back to the World Series. Los Angeles finished a sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Championship Series with a 5-1 victory in Game 4.
According to MLB.com Ohtani is now the only player in league history to hit multiple home runs in a game he pitched. He reached that milestone with his second homer in the fourth inning and added a third in the seventh. He also struck out 10 batters over six scoreless innings.
Before Friday, only 12 MLB players in history had hit three home runs in a postseason game, and just 26 pitchers had struck out at at least 10 without allowing a run. Now Ohtani is on both those lists and is the only player to do both in the same game.
Fans and sports analysts on social media called it one of the greatest performances in baseball history, with ESPN and MLB Network highlighting the unprecedented combination of pitching and hitting dominance.
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Ohtani’s Dodgers are the first team to win back-to-back pennants since Philadelphia in 2009. Los Angeles is back in the World Series for the fifth time in nine seasons, and it will attempt to become baseball’s first repeat champs since the New York Yankees won three straight World Series from 1998 to 2000.
Los Angeles will have a week off before the World Series begins next Friday, either in Toronto or at Dodger Stadium against Seattle. The Mariners beat the Blue Jays 6-2 earlier Friday to take a 3-2 lead in the ALCS, which continues Sunday at the Rogers Centre.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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