LOS ANGELES — This is undeniably a special time in baseball, with two of its greatest players ever — Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani — providing daily thrills.

It’s extra special when they are doing it in the same game, and even better when they are demonstrating their specialness nearly simultaneously.

Judge and Ohtani signaled from the start Friday — moments after the iconic opener, “It’s time for Dodger baseball!” — on one of those perfect L.A. nights that this mano-a-mano matchup just might be something to behold.

Judge took a cookie from Tony Gonsolin 446 feet out to their own version of the center-field black to give the Yankees (and Judge) the early lead.