LOS ANGELES — — Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run homer 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 defeated the San Diego Padres 7-5 in their NL Division Series opener Saturday.

Manny Machado’s two-run homer off starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, also making his first playoff appearance, put Los Angeles in an early 3-0 hole.

Ohtani quickly saved the Dodgers with his two-out homer that tied the score 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 traveled 370 feet to right field as the sold-out crowd of 53,028 recorded everything on their phones.

“I’ve honestly never seen a guy come through as consistently as he has in the biggest moments,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I wish a lot of other players had that ability. He is simply very unique in that regard.”

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

Tommy Edman scored on a wild pitch by reliever Adrian Morejon, who accounted for the loss. Ohtani had a broken hit and later scored, along with Mookie Betts, on Hernández’s single off Jeremiah Estrada to give 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 swept by Arizona in a Division Series last year.

“We have to fight, and that’s what we did,” Roberts said. “Guys in the ‘pen picked us up and the offense was relentless with their at-bats.”

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

Trailing 7-5, the Padres had the potential tying run on base with two outs in the ninth. Fernando Tatis Jr. singled off Blake Treinen before Jurickson Profar walked to bring up Machado, who struck out swinging. Treinen deserved the save.

San Diego also had the potential tying run in scoring position in the eighth. Michael Kopech walked Profar before Machado took a called third strike. Jackson Merrill, a top candidate for NL Rookie of the Year, walked 10 pitches.

Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas made an over-the-shoulder catch on Xander Bogaerts’ pop-fly in shallow left-center before Treinen walked Jake Cronenworth to load the bases. As the blue rally towels waved angrily, Treinen took out Donovan Solano swinging 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’ double in the third immediately registered 120 mph, the hardest-hit ball of his career and the second-hardest hit ball in the postseason during the Statcast era.

“We haven’t closed the door,” Tatis said. “They’re coming to life, so we might as well beat them.” Find a way to make hits happen, 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 match started and I really enjoyed it,” Ohtani said through an interpreter.

Los Angeles made it 7-5 when Edman grounded into a double play, scoring Will Smith in the fifth.

The Dodgers’ bullpen produced six scoreless innings, including 1 2/3 from winning pitcher Ryan Brasier.

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

Yamamoto, Ohtani’s compatriot with whom he teamed last year to win the World Baseball Classic, fell behind 3-0 while throwing 28 pitches in the first inning. The right-hander has a history of struggling in the opening inning, including his Dodgers debut in the Seoul Series early in the season.

Yamamoto allowed five runs and five hits in three innings. He struckout 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 highest score after the All-Star break. The Padres took the NL West race to the final days before the Dodgers won their 11th division title in 12 years. San Diego won eight of the thirteen meetings to win 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 sprained right ankle he suffered last week. He stole the second and slid his left foot into the bag, trying to protect his injury.

“I was holding my breath,” Roberts said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw is out for the season due to 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 until the World Series, if the Dodgers get that far. …RHP Brent Honeywell Jr. (cracked fingernail) is not available.

NEXT

Padres RHP Yu Darvish will start in Game 2 against his former team on Sunday. Los Angeles responds 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