Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Shohei Ohtani homers helped the Los Angeles Dodgers crush the Cincinnati Reds while the Boston Red Sox rallied by the New York Yankees to open the MLB playoffs.
The Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs led off the Day 1 slate with respective 2-1 and 3-1 victories over the Cleveland Guardians and San Diego Padres on Tuesday in the wild card round.
Tuesday's winners are now each just a win away from securing tickets to the divisional round.
Ohtani and the Dodgers earned the final victory of the night with a 10-5 blowout at Dodger Stadium. The three-time MVP homered twice -- with a solo shot in the first at-bat of the postseason and a 454-foot, two-run blast in the sixth inning.
"I was happy I was able to help the team score early," Ohtani told reporters.
