Dodgers‘ Ohtani and Betts Shine in Commanding NLCS Game 4 Victory
NEW YORK — Home runs sent Shohei Ohtani across home plate twice on Thursday, as the Dodgers faced off against the Mets in NLCS Game 4.
Each time, Ohtani greeted fellow superstar Mookie Betts with the familiar baseball phrase: “Let’s go.”
In the first inning, Ohtani expressed these words matter-of-factly as he encouraged his teammate. Moments earlier, Los Angeles’ leadoff man had started the game with vigor, crushing a second-pitch home run into the Mets’ bullpen at an impressive 117.9 mph, marking the third-hardest hit playoff home run ever tracked. The crowd at Citi Field fell silent as the Dodgers quickly took the lead, already ahead 2-1 in the series.
Betts, up next, waited for Ohtani to complete his trip around the bases. Ohtani tapped the plate, high-fived Betts, and offered his two telling words.
Five innings later, the roles reversed. This time, Betts silenced the crowd. With the Dodgers leading by three and the game still competitive, Betts launched a home run into the left-field stands, extending L.A.’s lead to a commanding 7-2. Ohtani, who had drawn a walk just prior, jogged across the plate ahead of Betts. They high-fived once more, and again Ohtani exclaimed, “Let’s go.”
This time, Ohtani’s phrase carried an air of gleeful incredulousness, almost a chuckle. His delight was understandable; Ohtani, who had never played in October prior to this year, was now on the brink of a World Series appearance.
Los Angeles’ dynamic duo delivered in Game 4, which concluded decisively with the Dodgers winning 10-2. Ohtani and Betts accounted for seven of the team’s runs, putting the Dodgers ahead in the NLCS three games to one. Ohtani finished the night 1-for-3 with three walks, while Betts excelled at 4-for-6 with four RBIs.
“I’ve tried to stay even-keeled and all those things,” Betts remarked after the game. “At a time like this, that doesn’t really work, so you’ve just got to jump on the roller coaster and enjoy the ride.”
The Mets, however, did not back down immediately. Third baseman Mark Vientos responded to Ohtani’s lead-off homer with a solo shot in the bottom of the first. For several innings, the game showed signs of competitiveness. The Dodgers scored two runs in the third against Mets lefty José Quintana, who had allowed more runs on Thursday (five) than in the previous eight weeks combined. Once again, New York answered back with a run on a Brandon Nimmo fielder’s choice.
Quintana, however, struggled throughout the game. The Colombian southpaw ceded two more runs in the fourth on an RBI double from Betts. The game continued until Betts broke it open in the sixth with a towering homer. All Ohtani could do was laugh and shout, “Let’s go!”
The two stars, with contracts totaling $1.065 billion, followed different postseason paths to this night of shared triumph.
Betts is well-acquainted with the October spotlight. His Game 4 home run marked his seventh playoff homer, in his 67th career playoff game. Now comfortable under pressure, Betts once struggled to find his swing in the postseason, not hitting a home run in his first 97 playoff plate appearances until he took Clayton Kershaw deep in Game 5 of the 2018 World Series.
Ohtani, on the other hand, achieved playoff success much quicker, hitting a home run in just his second-ever October at-bat. Although new to playoff baseball after six seasons with the Angels, he is no stranger to high-pressure situations. Before his home run on Thursday, Ohtani had mixed results, going hitless with the bases empty and collecting seven hits in nine at-bats with runners in scoring position this postseason.
Despite the earlier oddity, Ohtani remains a formidable force. The Mets will need to contend with him and Betts in at least a few more games. The New York club, known for its self-confidence, has thrived on an underdog mentality, often bouncing back against the odds.
However, the current atmosphere seems different. Mets hitters appear fatigued, and their bullpen has struggled to find outs. The 43,882 fans at Citi Field, braving the chilly weather, seem resigned to the fate of their beloved team.
After the game, a Mets clubhouse attendant transported a basket of equipment from the dugout to the locker room. Among the items were a few gloves, a bat, and the oversized “OMG” sign the team has used after home runs. If New York fails to turn things around in their next game, that attendant might end up taking the sign into storage.
Ohtani and Betts are certainly hoping for that outcome.
The duo embodies the sheer might of the Dodgers’ roster, reminding everyone that sometimes the best strategy in playoff baseball is simply having two of the game’s top players on your team.