Mon Oct 06 23:40:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3 in Game 1 of the NL Division Series. Teoscar Hernández hit a crucial three-run home run in the seventh inning, erasing a previous defensive error and bailing out Shohei Ohtani, who struggled both on the mound early and went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts at the plate. Ohtani, in his first playoff pitching start, settled down after a shaky second inning to pitch six innings with nine strikeouts. The Phillies initially led thanks to a three-run third inning, but their offense went cold, and their bullpen faltered. Roki Sasaki earned his first career save.

**News Article:**

**Dodgers Steal Game 1 in Philadelphia Behind Hernández’s Heroics**

PHILADELPHIA – Teoscar Hernández blasted a three-run home run in the seventh inning to lift the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the NL Division Series on Saturday night. The clutch hit redeemed an earlier defensive miscue by Hernández and salvaged a frustrating night for Shohei Ohtani.

Ohtani, making his highly anticipated postseason debut on the mound, initially struggled with early nerves, allowing three runs in the second inning and striking out four straight times at the plate. However, he settled down to pitch six innings with nine strikeouts.

The Phillies jumped ahead in the third, with J.T. Realmuto’s two-run triple and Harrison Bader’s sacrifice fly giving them a 3-0 lead. But the Dodgers chipped away, with Kiké Hernández delivering a two-run double in the sixth. Then Teoscar Hernández delivered the decisive blow in the seventh with a mammoth opposite-field shot.

“It was a great moment,” Ohtani said through a translator, relieved by Hernandez’s homer. “It’s definitely a highlight for us and for the team.”

Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez dominated early, striking out Ohtani three times, including a called strike three in the fifth that electrified the home crowd. However, the Phillies offense went cold after the third inning, managing only two hits for the rest of the game.

Roki Sasaki worked a clean ninth for his first career save, securing the win for Los Angeles.

“We jumped on ‘em and kind of laid low there for a little bit,” said Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper. “They took some good swings and got ahead, and we weren’t able to do any more than that. I thought we missed some pitches over the plate and were chasing a little bit.”

The Dodgers will look to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series in Game 2 on Monday, with Blake Snell expected to start. The Phillies will counter with Jesús Luzardo. Phillies manager Rob Thomson stressed the need for his team to put the loss behind them. “These guys are pretty good at that,” he said.

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