Dodgers Recap: Dodgers Rally Off Phillies ‘Pen Thanks to Teoscar Hernández’s Home Run 

PHILADELPHIA, PA–Shohei Ohtani performed strongly in his first postseason start, and Teoscar Hernández redeemed himself for a defensive mistake, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers secure a 5-3 comeback victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.

Ohtani’s October pitching debut was generally successful, as he pitched six innings and struck out nine batters. The three runs he allowed during his quality start occurred in the second inning, mainly because Hernández couldn’t cut off a ball in the right-center field gap.

That gave the Phillies their first lead of the game, going up 2-0 with no outs and a runner at third, as Realmuto advanced on the bases thanks to an awful read by Teoscar Hernández, who allowed the ball to reach the outfield scoreboards.

Despite this, Ohtani maintained a streak of retiring ten batters in a row, which was interrupted by a hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the fifth inning. A single then loaded the bases, but Ohtani managed to retire Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber to get out of the inning.

Schwarber and Bryce Harper combined for 0-for-6 at the plate with four strikeouts against Ohtani, who retired 15 of the last 17 batters. He left the game with the Dodgers ahead, 5-3.

Until then, Sánchez had kept Ohtani quiet, shutting down the Dodgers for five innings. The Dodgers gained some momentum in the sixth when Freddie Freeman’s walk ignited a two-out rally.

Tommy Edman followed with a single, and Kiké Hernández hit a two-run double to score, scoring the Dodgers and forcing Sánchez out of the game.

After David Robinson failed to get the Phillies out of his jam, Phillies manager Rob Thomson brought in lefty Matt Strahm, who then struck out Ohtani before giving up the decisive home run to Teoscar Hernández.

Now, the Dodgers would have the lead, and they would never look back as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts managed aggressively, bringing in right-hander Tyler Glasnow, Alex Vesia, and Roki Sasaki to close out the final nine outs.

For Sasaki, it was his first career save, and it came in the most hostile place in a critical Game One of the NLDS.

Game Two will be on Monday, and left-hander Blake Snell will have the ball, hoping to push the Dodgers up two games to none in the series.

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