LOS ANGELES – No matter how good they were in the regular season, the Los Angeles Dodgers knew they had to do one thing: show up when it mattered most.

It’s far from over, but one game later the Dodgers have made it.

Los Angeles overcame an early deficit thanks to the batting of Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez to defeat the San Diego Padres 7-5 in Game 1 of the Division Series between the NL West rivals.

The first inning looked like deja vu for the Dodgers. San Diego quickly attacked Yoshinobo Yamamoto, taking a 3-0 lead on a Manny Machado home run before Ohtani could make his first postseason at-bat, and it felt like it could be another disappointing night in Chavez Ravine become.

Then a huge hit from the presumptive NL MVP changed everything. A three-run blast from baseball’s first 50-50 player in the second inning tied the score and shook Dodger Stadium. After the Padres regained the lead in the third inning, Los Angeles responded with a triple in the fourth inning and another run in the following frame that put them ahead for good.

As much attention as the Dodgers’ bats got Saturday night, it was the bullpen that saved the day and saved Yamamoto from a loss in his first postseason game. In six shutout innings with five relievers, Los Angeles limited San Diego’s offense to two hits with seven strikeouts, overcoming four walks in the final two innings and a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning.

The win ends the Dodgers’ six-game postseason losing streak and gives them a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series. In 2022, it was the Dodgers who won Game 1 in the NLDS before the Padres won the next three and sent Los Angeles home.

Game 2 is back in Los Angeles on Sunday, and San Diego will look to steal one on the road like they did two seasons ago.

This is how the game went on Saturday:

The Dodgers escape a bases-loaded jam in the 8th

LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers kept San Diego off the field.

After Michael Kopech and Blake Treinen combined to load the bases for the Padres, Treinen got Donovan Solano to hit a dirty sweeper to end the eighth inning and keep the score at 7-5.

Dodgers add another run

LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers capitalized on an error by Manny Machado to extend their lead to 7-5.

In the bottom of the fifth, Will Smith hit a ground ball to Machado, but the two-time Gold Glove winner overthrew first baseman Donovan Solano, allowing Smith to advance to second base. After a hit by Gavin Lux moved Smith to third with no outs, Tommy Edman hit a double play that brought Smith home and extended the Dodgers’ lead.

The Dodgers storm back and take the first lead

We go back and forth in Los Angeles. A three-run inning gave the Dodgers a four-run lead.

After Dylan Cease was thrown out of the game, a single by Shohei Ohtani loaded the bases for Los Angeles. With Mookie Betts at bat, a pitch from Padres pitcher Adrian Morejon got past catcher Kyle Higashioka and Tommy Edman came home to add a run. The Padres elected to intentionally walk Mookie Betts to load the bases again before Freddie Freeman hit a ball to first baseman Donovan Solano, who brought home Miguel Rojas on the force play.

But San Diego brought in right-hander Jeremiah Estrada to face Teoscar Hernandez, and the Dodgers left fielder made the Padres pay. He hit a single that got just under the glove of center fielder Jackson Merrill to score two more runs and take the lead, 6-5.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto was done after three innings

Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobo Yamamoto’s first playoff game is over after three innings as the Padres were able to do some damage to the rookie.

Yamamoto gave up five runs on five hits, two walks and one strikeout Saturday night.

Padres take the lead again in the third inning

San Diego is ahead once again.

With two outs and two on to start the third, Xander Bogaerts hit a double to left field to bring in Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill, making it 5-3 after Shohei Ohtani tied it with a home run in the previous frame achieved.

Left fielder Teoscar Hernandez tried to field the ball, but it went past him as he slipped, allowing Merrill to easily score from the start and it became a two-run ballgame.

Shohei Ohtani connects it with a huge home run

LOS ANGELES – Welcome to the playoffs, Shohei Ohtani.

The presumptive NL MVP undoubtedly hit a three-run shot into the right field pavilion that sent Dodger Stadium into a frenzy, tying the score at 3-3 at the end of the second.

Ohtani knew immediately.

Shohei Ohtani flies out in the first playoff blow

Shohei Ohtani finally made his playoff debut and it ended with one out.

On the sixth pitch of his at-bat, he flew to left field to start the Dodgers’ half of the inning, already in a 3-0 hole.

Manny Machado hit a home run in the Padres’ great first inning

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobo Yamamoto and catcher Will Smith don’t mesh well together, which led to the Padres scoring in the first.

After hitting an opposite-field single, Luis Arraez moved to second on a passed ball and then to third on a wild pitch with Fernando Tatis Jr. at the plate. Tatis drew a walk and Jurickson Profar singled to second to bring in Arrez for the first run of the night.

The ensuing at-bat, Manny Machado hit unequivocally to left field and San Diego quickly took a 3-0 lead.

Yamamoto threw 28 pitches in the first game.

When is Dodgers vs. Padres?

The first pitch in Game 1 is scheduled 8:38 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium.

Dodgers vs. Padres TV station

Dodgers lineup: Freddie Freeman returns from injury

1. Shohei Ohtani (left) DH

2. Mookie Betts (R) RF

3. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B

4. Teoscar Hernández (R) LF

5. Max Muncy (L) 3B

6. Will Smith (R) C

7. Gavin Lux (L) 2B

8. Tommy Edman (S) CF

9. Miguel Rojas (R) SS

Padres lineup for NLDS Game 1

1. Luis Arraez (L) DH

2. Fernando Tatis Jr. (R) RF

3. Jurickson Profar (S) LF

4. Manny Machado (R) 3B

5. Jackson Merrill (left) CF

6. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS

7. Jake Cronenworth (L) 2B

8. Donovan Solano (R) 1B

9. Kyle Higashioka (R) C

Clayton Kershaw is ready for 2024

LOS ANGELES — As the Los Angeles Dodgers head into the 2024 postseason and need pitching depth, they won’t have their future Hall of Fame left-hander.

Manager Dave Roberts announced before Game 1 of the National League Divisional Series that Clayton Kershaw would not pitch again this season.

“Clayton did everything he could to move things forward and give himself a chance to compete in the postseason,” Roberts said. “But where he is right now, physically, the foot, the toe, he’s just not cooperating. It’s actually getting worse. Yes, that’s it for Clayton for 2024.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dodgers vs. Padres highlights: Ohtani appears in NLDS Game 1