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Shohei Ohtani delivered a postseason performance for the ages, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. His three home runs and dominant pitching helped the Dodgers sweep the Brewers and advance to the World Series.

Historic Two-Way Performance

Ohtani’s combination of power at the plate and precision on the mound was unmatched. He struck out 10 batters while pitching into the seventh inning without allowing a run and became the first pitcher in major league history to hit a leadoff home run in a postseason game.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called the effort “probably the greatest postseason performance of all time,” highlighting Ohtani’s status as one of baseball’s premier players. “There’s a reason why he’s the greatest player on the planet,” Roberts said.

Three Home Runs That Shook the League

Ohtani’s historic night featured three towering homers. The first came in the top of the first inning off Brewers starter Jose Quintana. The second, a 469-foot drive, cleared a pavilion roof in right-center field. His third, a solo shot in the seventh inning, made him the 12th player in major league history to hit three home runs in a postseason game. Collectively, his homers traveled 1,342 feet.

“This time around it was my turn to be able to perform,” Ohtani said through his interpreter, reflecting on the momentous achievement.

Dominance on the Mound

In addition to his offensive heroics, Ohtani pitched a masterful game, allowing only two hits while recording double-digit strikeouts for the first time in his Dodgers postseason career. He retired 11 consecutive batters at one point and fanned two Brewers each in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.

Teammate Freddie Freeman, last season’s World Series MVP, marveled at Ohtani’s performance. “Sometimes you’ve got to check yourself and touch him to make sure he’s not just made of steel,” Freeman said. “Absolutely incredible. Biggest stage, and he goes out and does something like that. It’ll probably be remembered as the Shohei Ohtani game.”

Dodgers Make History

The Dodgers became the first team to win back-to-back pennants since Philadelphia in 2009 and secured a fifth World Series appearance in nine seasons. They aim to become baseball’s first repeat champions in 25 years, a feat last accomplished by the New York Yankees from 1998 to 2000.

Los Angeles swept the NLCS for the first time in its history, dominating a Brewers team that led the major leagues with 97 wins during the regular season. The Dodgers’ four starters combined for 28 2/3 innings with only two earned runs allowed and 35 strikeouts.

“Before this season started, they said the Dodgers are ruining baseball,” Roberts told the crowd during postgame celebrations. “Let’s get four more wins and really ruin baseball!”

Milwaukee’s Postseason Struggle

The Brewers, despite setting a franchise record for wins, were eliminated by the Dodgers for the third time in seven playoff appearances. Milwaukee has yet to reach the World Series since 1982. Manager Pat Murphy praised Ohtani’s performance, calling it “an iconic, maybe the best individual performance ever in a postseason game.”

Brewers’ bats remained silent against Los Angeles’ pitching rotation, with Ohtani setting the tone from the start. Jackson Chourio led off the fourth inning with Milwaukee’s first hit, but Ohtani stranded him and maintained control until leaving the mound in the seventh.

Key Contributors and Closing Moments

The Dodgers added two runs in the first inning after Ohtani’s historic homer, with Mookie Betts and Will Smith both singling and scoring. Alex Vesia relieved Ohtani in the seventh and escaped a jam, allowing Ohtani to hit his third home run in the bottom half of the inning.

Reliever Blake Treinen allowed two baserunners in the eighth, but Brice Turang and Anthony Banda helped limit further damage. Rookie closer Roki Sasaki pitched a scoreless ninth to secure the victory.

Freeman celebrated the collective effort, noting the consistency and quality of the Dodgers’ play. “We’ve just been playing really good baseball for a while now, and the inevitable kind of happened today — Shohei. Oh my God. I’m still speechless,” he said.

Looking Ahead to the World Series

Following a 9-1 playoff run, the Dodgers will have a week off before the World Series begins next Friday, facing either the Seattle Mariners or Toronto Blue Jays. The Dodgers seek their first repeat championship since the Yankees’ late-1990s dynasty, aiming to cement their dominance in the modern era.

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Source: AP News – Shohei Ohtani hits 3 homers and strikes out 10 in Dodgers’ clinching 5-1 NLCS win over Brewers

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Santa Ana, California — Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani, has been sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison for bank and tax fraud after stealing nearly $17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player’s bank account.

A Stunning Betrayal

Mizuhara, entrusted with bridging the gap between the Japanese athlete and his English-speaking teammates, exploited Ohtani’s trust, siphoning millions to fund a reckless gambling addiction. On Thursday, a federal court in Santa Ana ordered him to pay $18 million in restitution—with nearly $17 million going to Ohtani and the rest to the IRS.

He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and must surrender to authorities by March 24.

Judge: ‘The Magnitude of the Theft is Shockingly High’

U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb condemned the scale of the crime.

“Seventeen million dollars—most people don’t make that much in a lifetime.”

While expressing hope that Mizuhara could repay the stolen money, Holcomb admitted, “That remains to be seen.”

Mizuhara’s Apology and Desperate Addiction

In a remorseful statement to the court, Mizuhara apologized to Ohtani, the Dodgers, the government, and his family.

“I am truly, deeply sorry for what I have done. I am prepared to be punished for it.”

Mizuhara admitted to using Ohtani’s money to cover mounting gambling debts, fund his lavish baseball card purchases (totaling $325,000), and even pay for his own dental bills.

Prosecutors: ‘He Lied, He Cheated, He Stole’

Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally emphasized the gravity of Mizuhara’s deception, saying he took advantage of Ohtani’s vulnerability as a non-English speaker navigating the world of Major League Baseball.

“Mr. Mizuhara lied, he cheated, and he stole. His behavior was shameless.”

Prosecutors revealed that Mizuhara had manipulated Ohtani’s bank account starting in 2021, altering security protocols to impersonate the baseball star and authorize massive wire transfers.

By 2024, Mizuhara had:
Placed tens of millions of dollars in illegal bets—on international soccer, the NBA, the NFL, and college football. (Prosecutors confirmed he never bet on baseball.)
Spent $325,000 on baseball cards from online resellers.

Defense: Gambling Addiction and VIP Treatment

Mizuhara’s attorney, Michael Freedman, had requested a lighter sentence of just 18 months, arguing that Mizuhara’s gambling addiction was fueled by access to unlimited credit from an illegal bookmaker—a temptation worsened by his high-profile connection to Ohtani.

“He was exposed to a world where he was given unlimited credit to run up these kinds of numbers,” Freedman said.

However, federal prosecutor Jeff Mitchell countered that Mizuhara’s actions had inflicted lasting damage—not just financial but also reputational—on Ohtani.

“The most significant harm to Mr. Ohtani is the reputational damage, which may never be fully repaired.”

A Trusted Friend Turned Fraudster

Born in Japan, Mizuhara moved to California at age six, struggling with English before mastering the language. He later returned to Japan in 2013 to work as an interpreter for a Japanese baseball team, eventually becoming Ohtani’s close friend and confidant.

When Ohtani moved to the U.S. in 2018, Mizuhara followed, handling personal errands, grocery shopping, and acting as his right-hand man both on and off the field.

Mizuhara was by Ohtani’s side during his biggest career moments:
Serving as his catcher at the 2021 Home Run Derby
Witnessing his two American League MVP wins
Celebrating his record-breaking $700 million contract with the Dodgers

His loyalty even extended to quitting his job with the Los Angeles Angels during the 2021 MLB lockout—just so he could continue communicating with Ohtani.

A Scandal That Rocked Baseball

The case sent shockwaves through the sports world, engulfing Ohtani in controversy despite prosecutors confirming he was a victim. The scandal emerged from a broader investigation into illegal sports bookmaking operations in Southern California, with links to money laundering in Las Vegas casinos.

Ohtani, now with the Dodgers, remains one of baseball’s biggest stars. Last year, he helped lead the team to a World Series victory and claimed his third Most Valuable Player award.

Source

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