NEW YORK — The thrilling fifth game of the National League Division Series last Friday, featuring a clash between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, achieved a remarkable milestone as it became the most-watched Major League Baseball postseason game ever recorded in Japan, drawing approximately 12.9 million viewers, as reported by MLB.

In this game, the Dodgers triumphed with a score of 2-0, marking a historic moment as it was the first postseason game to see two Japanese pitchers take the mound as starters. Yoshinobu Yamamoto of Los Angeles showcased a stellar performance, allowing only two hits across five innings. Meanwhile, Yu Darvish from San Diego contributed with a solid outing as well, surrendering two runs on three hits over 6 2/3 innings.

Adding to the excitement, superstar Shohei Ohtani played a pivotal role in helping the Dodgers secure their place in the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2021. The game’s start coincided with Saturday morning in Japan, beginning around 11 a.m. local time, due to the 16-hour time difference with Los Angeles.

The decisive NLDS match not only captivated Japanese audiences but also surpassed viewership numbers for the last three MLB games previously aired in Japan. The Dodgers and Padres had launched the regular season earlier this year with a series of games in Tokyo, further igniting interest in baseball among Japanese fans.

In a previous notable appearance, Ohtani’s first postseason representation in MLB on October 5 garnered an impressive average of 9.1 million viewers in Japan, where he made headlines with a notable three-run homer in a game that ended with the Dodgers defeating the Padres 7-5.