Shohei's Leadoff Double Sparks a Wild 7th-Inning Comeback Night

Man, the Dodgers had me on the edge of my seat tonight

Leadoff at-bat, first inning, and Shohei — I'm telling ya — jumped on the first pitch slider and lined it right down the right field line for a double. 105.7 mph exit velo, clean liner at a 13-degree angle. THIS is what I've been waiting to see, baby. The whole stadium got fired up in one swing.

But man, from there it got frustrating... Enrique doubled down the left field line at 100.6 mph in the bottom of the 3rd to put us up 1-0, but the top of the 4th they got it right back. Willi Castro hit a slow roller that just trickled down the right field line, then Torbar's sac fly to left-center made it 1-2. I literally yelled "come ON!" at the TV.

They totally pitched around Shohei in his 3rd at-bat

Bottom of the 3rd, runners on 2nd and 3rd, Shohei steps up. Gordon was scared from pitch one — fastballs, curves, everything way outside. Basically an intentional walk. I mean, yeah, of course — you let Shohei hit there and the game's over. They knew it too.

Bottom of the 5th, fly out to left. He crushed it at 94.4 mph but the 46-degree launch angle was way too steep — popped it up. I let out an "aw man," but hey, Shohei already had a double and a walk on the night, so I just told myself "next one, next one!"

Then came the bottom of the 7th — THIS was the highlight of the night

Right after Torbar took one deep for a solo shot to make it 1-3 — 109.1 mph exit velo, 431 feet to left-center, I was like "yeah, we're cooked" — honestly.

But then Shohei comes up with the bases juiced, jumps on a first-pitch curveball and grounds one to right-center. It was a force out, broken-up double play, but he ripped it at 104.9 mph and got us a run back. THAT was huge. Then Betts followed with a sac fly down the left field line to tie it, Freeman doubled down the right field line at 100.7 mph to take the lead, and Pages capped it off with a 98.5 mph RBI single up the middle. Four runs in one inning! FOUR! I was straight-up screaming at the TV.

Shohei: 1-for-4, but on base 3 times with 1 RBI

Only one hit, sure, but he got on with a double AND a walk, then grinded out an RBI in a bases-loaded spot. Numbers don't tell the whole story — Shohei did way more to win this game than the box score shows. THIS is why I can't stop watching Ohtani, man.

5-3 final. Going to bed happy tonight. Night, y'all!