“New Mr. Low leverage in town” “Pulling an Aaron Judge” - Fans stay unimpressed as Shohei Ohtani hits first career World Series home run

Shohei Ohtani hit the first World Series home run of his career in an 11-4 loss against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday. He went 1-for-4 in the game with a two-run home run and a walk in the game.

In the top of the seventh inning, Tommy Edman drew a leadoff walk. One batter later, Ohtani swung on a 1-2, 85 mph curveball from Blue Jays reliever Braydon Fisher. The ball went deep into the right field bleachers and silenced the crowd at the Rogers Centre.

However, the dinger didn't trouble Toronto much as it had raced to an 11-2 lead at that point. Thus, Ohtani's home run received a lukewarm response from fans on X, who believed that the generational player emulated New York Yankees' Aaron Judge in showing up in non-clutch moments.

Here are a few reactions:

"Aaron Judge you can rest now brother, there’s a new Mr. Low leverage in town," a fan said.

VLADDY4MVP 💥

@TJISPOVERTY

@MLB Aaron judge you can rest now brother, there’s a new Mr. Low leverage in town.

"Pulling an Aaron Judge," a fan wrote.

Lucic Enthusiast

@markspectorfan

@MLB Pulling an Aaron Judge.

"The Aaron Judge post season special," a fan stated.

Daveinchi

@Daveinchi88

@MLB The Aaron judge post season special

"I'm crying, all he does is hit meaningless home runs in the playoffs," another fan said.

Francisco Enthusiast

@theawd_

@MLB Im crying all he does is hit meaningless home runs in the playoffs😭

"If Judge did this at this point in the game, they would crucify him," a fan exclaimed.

SchlitIsKing

@shlitlersupreme

@MLB IF JUDGE DID THIS AT THIS POINT IN THE GAME THEY WOULD CRUCIFY HIM

"Doing his best Judge impression," a fan added.

Gruesome

@popfanboy

@MLB Never beating the low leverage allegations

Earlier in the game, in the top of the second inning, Ohtani grounded out on four pitches with the bases loaded against starter Trey Yesavage. He struck out twice, batting leadoff in the first and fifth innings.

The home run tied the Dodgers' two-way player for the postseason lead alongside Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who also has 6 home runs. Ohtani hit 2 home runs in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Cincinnati Reds.

He went one better, hitting three blasts last week in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, while striking out ten batters as the team's starter. The Dodgers were leading 3-0 in the NLCS at that point.

Dave Roberts hints he expects more from Shohei Ohtani

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, in the postgame interviews on Friday, stated that he liked his chances with Ohtani at the plate in the bases loaded situation in the second frame.

"The homer was nice," Roberts said via Dodger Blue. "Hopefully he can kind of build on that one. He's going to be alright. You like him with the bases loaded. Yesavage made a good pitch with the split down below. Shohei is going to be fine."

Dodger Blue

@DodgerBlue1958

Dave Roberts on Shohei Ohtani's night: "The homer was nice. Hopefully he can kind of build on that one. He's going to be alright. You like him with the bases loaded. Yesavage made a good pitch with the split down below. Shohei is going to be fine."

The Dodgers held a 2-0 lead before the Blue Jays tied the game in the bottom of the fourth via a Daulton Varsho home run. Toronto then hit 9 runs in the sixth inning, the third-highest tally in a single World Series inning in MLB history.