LOS ANGELES – Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run homer in his postseason debut, Teoscar Hernandez’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 National League Division Series opener Saturday.

Manny Machado’s two-run homer off Dodgers 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, making it 3-all in the second inning. The Japanese superstar went deep as Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax looked on and fans chanted “MVP! MVP!” chanted. His shot traveled more than 370 feet to right field, with many in the sold-out crowd of 53,028 recording it all on their phones.

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 Hernandez’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 in a divisional series by the Arizona Diamondbacks last year.

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 into 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.

Ryan Brasier got the win in relief.