The China Mail - Ohtani erupts as Dodgers down Reds, Red Sox stun Yankees in MLB playoffs

Japanese superstar Ohtani led an early offensive onslaught for the reigning World Series champions, uncorking a 375-foot moonshot off Reds starter Hunter Greene in the first inning to start the scoring at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers' potent batting lineup then attacked Greene again in the third inning, with Teoscar Hernandez belting a three-run home run before Tommy Edman added a solo shot to make it 5-0.

Hernandez bagged a second solo home run to make it 6-0 before Ohtani crushed a two-run shot deep into right center-field to push the score to 8-0.

Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell threw seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts, before a shaky Los Angeles bullpen performance allowed Cincinnati to add five late runs.

The Dodgers can book a place in the National League divisional series against the Philadelphia Phillies with victory in game two on Wednesday.

- Yankees slump to defeat -

The New York Yankees are fighting for their postseason survival after slumping to a 3-1 defeat against arch-rivals Boston at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees, aiming to return to the World Series after finishing runners-up to the Dodgers last year, got off to a dream start when shortstop Anthony Volpe launched a 382-foot homer to right field in the second inning.

But with Red Sox starter Garrett Crochet delivering a gem and Yankees pitcher Max Fried also dominant, the game remained on a knife-edge.

The breakthrough came when Fried retired after pitching 6.1 scoreless innings, Boston's Masataka Yoshida hitting a two-run single to put the Red Sox ahead.

Crochet exited after 7 2/3 scoreless innings, a sensational first career playoff start that ended with four hits, no walks and 11 strikeouts.

Alex Bregman's double in the ninth stretched Boston's lead to 3-1, and although the Yankees loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman extricated himself from that jam to seal victory.

Earlier Tuesday, Tarik Skubal struck out a career-high 14 batters to give Detroit Tigers a crucial 2-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians and a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three American League wild card series.

Skubal gave up just three hits and one run across 7.2 innings before reliever Will Vest was brought in to bag the last four outs.

"Tarik set an incredible tone for us," Tigers manager AJ Hinch said after the victory at Progressive Field.

"He's been incredible for us all season, but what a performance at the biggest moments in the biggest stage to get us in a great position to win the game."

Detroit, who were pipped by Cleveland for top spot in the AL Central after an epic mid-season collapse, can wrap up the series with a victory in game two on Wednesday.

In other wild card playoff action, the Chicago Cubs drew first blood in their best-of-three series with the San Diego Padres, winning 3-1 at Wrigley Field.

S.Davis--ThChM