The baseball world witnessed history at Dodger Stadium on Friday night. What Shohei Ohtani accomplished in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series will be talked about for generations.
The Los Angeles Dodgers completed a dominant 4-0 sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers with a 5-1 victory. But this wasn’t just another playoff win. This was the Shohei Ohtani show.
A Two-Way Masterclass for the Ages
Ohtani struck out the side in the top of the first inning. Then he walked to the plate and launched a 446-foot leadoff home run off José Quintana.
That was just the beginning.
The Japanese superstar finished the night with three home runs and 10 strikeouts while pitching six scoreless innings. He allowed just two hits and three walks across 100 pitches before departing in the seventh to a standing ovation.
Ohtani’s historic Game 4 numbers:
- Pitching: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 10 K, 3 BB
- Hitting: 3-for-3, 3 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB
- Combined home run distance: 1,342 feet
His second home run in the fourth inning travelled 469 feet, clearing the right field pavilion at Dodger Stadium. Only seven players in stadium history have accomplished that feat.
THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS ARE YOUR 2025 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS! pic.twitter.com/rfn4jxIGXW
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 18, 2025
Breaking Baseball Records Left and Right
Ohtani became just the second pitcher in history to hit three home runs in a single game. The last to do it was Jim Tobin of the Boston Braves in May 1942.
He’s also the first pitcher in MLB history to hit a leadoff home run. No Dodgers pitcher had ever hit a postseason homer before Friday night.
The performance came after questions about his playoff struggles. Ohtani entered Game 4 hitting just .167 (6-for-36) in the postseason with zero extra-base hits through three games.
Pitching Dominance Defines Series Victory
While Ohtani stole the spotlight, the Dodgers vs Brewers series showcased historically dominant pitching from Los Angeles.
Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Ohtani combined for remarkable numbers across four starts:
- 28.2 innings pitched
- 9 hits allowed
- 2 runs allowed
- 35 strikeouts
- 7 walks
Yamamoto threw a complete game in Game 2, striking out seven while allowing just one run. Glasnow dominated in Game 3 with 5.2 scoreless innings.
The Brewers managed just four total runs across the four-game series. Milwaukee’s offence, which featured the best regular season record in baseball, couldn’t solve LA’s starting rotation.
Brewers’ Season Ends in Disappointment
Milwaukee entered the NLCS as the top seed after posting baseball’s best regular-season record in 2025. The team’s patient approach and clutch hitting carried them through the year.
But when it mattered most, the bats went silent.
Christian Yelich, typically a Dodgers killer, went hitless in Game 4 and hasn’t recorded an RBI in 15 consecutive postseason games dating back to 2020.
Jackson Chourio provided the lone bright spot with a leadoff home run in Game 2. The rookie centre fielder hit .320 in the playoffs but received little support from his teammates.
What’s Next: World Series Awaits
The Dodgers now await their World Series opponent. The Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays are battling in the American League Championship Series, with Seattle holding a 3-2 lead.
LA will have a full week of rest before the Fall Classic begins. Manager Dave Roberts can properly set his rotation for what could be the team’s second consecutive championship.
The Dodgers went 5-1 against the Mariners and Blue Jays during the regular season. With their pitching performing at historic levels, Los Angeles enters the World Series as heavy favourites.
Key World Series dates:
- Game 1: Saturday, 25 October (TBD)
- Location: Dodger Stadium
- Opponent: Seattle Mariners or Toronto Blue Jays (ALCS continues)
Historical Context
Teams that take a 3-0 lead in best-of-seven postseason series have won 40 of 41 times (97.6%). The only comeback was Boston’s legendary 2004 ALCS victory over the Yankees.
The Brewers never really threatened to break that trend. They were outscored 15-4 across four games.
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Bottom Line
The Dodgers vs Brewers NLCS will be remembered for one thing: Shohei Ohtani’s transcendent Game 4 performance. His combination of pitching and power hitting created a moment that baseball fans won’t soon forget.
SHOHEI OHTANI, YOU ARE INCREDIBLE! pic.twitter.com/jythqTWUI4
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 18, 2025
Los Angeles proved it has the starting pitching to win another championship. With Ohtani, Snell, Yamamoto, and Glasnow firing on all cylinders, the defending champions look poised to repeat.
For Milwaukee, it’s a disappointing end to a brilliant season. But for the Dodgers, the journey towards championship number two is just getting started.
