A night earlier, he was stranded in the on-deck circle by an astounding triple play that pushed the Dodgers’ division title hopes to the brink.
On a raucous Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, Shohei Ohtani finally stepped to the plate.
And promptly stomped all but the last bits of breath from the San Diego Padres.
Triple play, shriple play, memories of the incredible ending of a night earlier were smothered by the giant that is Ohtani, whose one dainty walk followed by two deafening hits carried the Dodgers to both a 4-3 victory over the Padres and the precipice of their 11th National League West championship in 12 years.