LOS ANGELES – Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run home run in his postseason debut, Teoscar Hernández’s two-run single gave Los Angeles its first lead in a playoff game in two years and the Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 7-5 their opening game of the NL Division Series on Saturday.

Manny Machado’s two-run home run off starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, also making his first playoff appearance, gave Los Angeles an early 3-0 lead.

Ohtani quickly rescued the Dodgers with his two-out home run that tied the game in the second inning. The Japanese superstar went deep as Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax looked on and fans chanted “MVP!” MVP!” His shot flew 372 feet into right field, the sellout crowd of 53,028 recording everything on their cell phones.

“I’ve really never seen a guy come through in the biggest moments as consistently as he did,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I wish many other players had this ability. He is simply unique in that way.”

San Diego took a 5-3 lead before the Dodgers rallied with three runs in the fourth.

Tommy Edman scored on a wild pitch by reliever Adrian Morejon, who took the loss. Ohtani had a broken-bat single and later joined Mookie Betts in scoring on Hernández’s single off Jeremiah Estrada, giving the Dodgers a 6-5 lead.

It was their first lead in a postseason game since the seventh inning of Game 4 against the Padres in a 2022 NLDS. Los Angeles was defeated by Arizona in a Division Series last year.

“We have to fight, and we did,” Roberts said. “The guys from the stable picked us up and the offense was relentless with their attacks.”

The Dodgers earned their first postseason win since October 11, 2022 in Game 1 of the Division Series against San Diego. They improved to 1-15 in the playoffs when trailing by three or more runs in the first inning.

Trailing 7-5, the Padres had the potential to tie up runs on base with two outs in the ninth. Fernando Tatis Jr. singled Blake Treinen before Jurickson Profar passed to Machado, who struck with a swing. Treinen deserves the parade.

San Diego also had the potential to tie the score in the eighth period. Michael Kopech gave Profar a pass before Machado struck out third. Jackson Merrill, a top contender for NL Rookie of the Year, issued a 10-pitch walk.

Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas made an over-the-shoulder catch on Xander Bogaerts’ pop fly to shallow left-center before Treinen walked Jake Cronenworth to load the bases. With the blue rally towels waving furiously, Treinen hit Donovan Solano with a swing to end the threat.

The Padres’ big three – three-time batting champion Luis Arraez, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Machado – were a combined 4-for-14 with three strikeouts. Tatis’ third-round double reached 118.9 mph straight away, the hardest hit ball of his career and the second hardest hit ball in the postseason during the Statcast era.

“We didn’t close the door,” Tatis said. “They’re coming to life, so we’d better outdo them. Find a way to score no matter what.”

It took Ohtani 875 regular-season games to finally reach the playoffs after spending his first six years in the majors with the Los Angeles Angels, who never had a winning record during his tenure. He finished 2 for 5 with three RBI, two runs scored and two strikeouts.

“I could really feel the intensity of the stadium before the game started and I really enjoyed it,” Ohtani said through an interpreter.

Los Angeles made it 7-5 when Edman hit a double play that scored Will Smith in the fifth.

The Dodgers bullpen delivered six scoreless innings, including 1 2/3 by winning pitcher Ryan Brasier.

The NL West rivals will meet in the playoffs for the third time in five years. The Dodgers defeated the Padres in a 2020 NLDS on their way to winning the World Series in a pandemic-shortened season. The Padres turned the tables in 2022, defeating the Dodgers in another Division Series.

Yamamoto, Ohtani’s compatriot with whom he won the World Baseball Classic last year, fell behind 0-3 while throwing 28 pitches in the first game. The right-hander has struggled in the opening innings in the past, including in his Dodgers debut in the Seoul Series earlier in the season.

Yamamoto allowed five runs and five hits in three innings. He struck out one, walked three and threw a wild pitch.

Padres starter Dylan Cease, who threw a no-hitter this season, lasted 3 1/3 innings. He allowed five runs and six hits, struck out five and walked two.

The NL West champion Dodgers had the best record in the majors this year (98-64) and the wild-card Padres had the best mark after the All-Star break. The Padres took the NL West race to its final days before the Dodgers won their 11th division title in 12 years. San Diego won eight of 13 meetings and won the season series for the first time since 2010.

Bogaerts gave the Padres a 5-3 lead with a two-run double in the third.

All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman went 2 for 5 for the Dodgers while playing with a right ankle sprain he suffered last week. He stole second and slid his left foot into the bag to protect his injury.

“I was holding my breath,” Roberts said.

TRAINING ROOM

Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw is out for the season with a lingering left big toe injury. He said he may need surgery and won’t decide his future until the offseason. … RHP Joe Kelly won’t be available for the World Series until the Dodgers make it that far. … RHP Brent Honeywell Jr. (cracked fingernail) is unavailable.

NEXT

Padres RHP Yu Darvish will start Sunday’s Game 2 against his former team. Los Angeles counters with RHP Jack Flaherty, who grew up in the area and attended games at Dodger Stadium as a child.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB