Baseball Without Borders | October 4, 2025 | Citizens Bank Park — Philadelphia — It was a long, loud night in South Philadelphia.
From the concourse to the outfield bridge, fans were on their feet before first pitch — and for most of the game, it looked like the Phillies had Game 1 of the 2025 National League Division Series in their pocket.
Cristopher Sánchez of La Romana, Dominican Republic was sharp, the crowd was deafening, and Shohei Ohtani had struck out four times while giving up three early runs in his first Major League postseason start.
But the international heartbeat of Los Angeles — Ohtani, Teoscar Hernández of Cotuí, Dominican Republic; Enrique “Kiké” Hernández of San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Roki Sasaki of Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, Japan — turned it inside out.
Ohtani found rhythm after a shaky second inning, Hernández erased every doubt with one swing, and Sasaki slammed the door on the Phillies’ rally as 45,777 fans exhaled into the October air.
Ohtani Wins His First MLB Postseason Start
The Phillies didn’t wait to challenge him. In the second inning, J.T. Realmuto split right-center and the ball rolled to the wall between Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages of Havana, Cuba, for a two-run triple.
¡Realmuto con el triple toca la campana tempranito! ????
¡ESTO SE QUIERE CAER! #NLDS #Postseason pic.twitter.com/BIfpV14i1Y
— MLB Español (@mlbespanol) October 4, 2025
Harrison Bader added a sacrifice fly for 3–0.
From there, Ohtani settled into rhythm — splitters diving, fastball climbing. He retired 11 of 13 from the third through the sixth, finishing with six innings, three earned runs, nine strikeouts, and one walk — enough to earn his first MLB postseason win.
“Prior to the game, I was nervous imagining myself out there,” Ohtani said. “But once I was on the mound, that went away. It was really me focusing.” (ASAP Sports)
Even with four strikeouts at the plate, Ohtani found meaning in his leadoff role.
“They have quality arms. When I’m leading off, it lets their lefties come out, which gives Mookie and Teo behind me more chances. Even though the results weren’t good, I still contributed.” (ASAP Sports)
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, born in Naha, Okinawa, Japan, and raised in Southern California, put the night in perspective:
“He’s essentially two people in one game. To struggle at the plate, then go give us six innings — I don’t know another human who can do that. We just continue to witness history.” (ASAP Sports)
Cristopher Sánchez Holds Philly Together
For five-plus innings, Cristopher Sánchez had the game under control. The 27-year-old Dominican left-hander leaned on his changeup and sinker to keep the Dodgers off balance. He struck out eight and walked two in 5.2 innings, charged with two earned after Enrique Hernández split the left-field gap for a two-run double just after Sánchez departed. He left with a 3–2 lead — and the park fully alive.
The outing will get lost in the box, but it shouldn’t. Sánchez set a tone that matched the city.
Teoscar Hernández’s Game-Changing Swing
By the seventh, Teoscar Hernández had three strikeouts. After a Pages single and Will Smith HBP, lefty Matt Strahm took over. One pitch later, everything changed.
Through his first three trips, Hernández had struck out three times. But with two on and two out in the seventh, he caught a high fastball from Matt Strahm and launched it to right-center — a three-run homer that turned the game 5–3.
“He likes to go up in the zone,” Hernández said. “My first three at-bats I chased down. I wasn’t trying to overswing — maybe just get one in — but he left it there.” (ASAP Sports)
Asked if the earlier misplay on Realmuto’s triple was on his mind:
“Anything that happened before a big moment like that is in the past. I put it in the trash and focus on the at-bat.” (ASAP Sports)
It was his third home run in as many postseason games — each one giving the Dodgers the lead.
Roberts acknowledged the transformation:
“After that Colorado series, he said he had to be better — better defense, better offense. Since then, he’s been locked in.” (ASAP Sports)
Bader’s Voice, Philly’s Edge
Harrison Bader’s night had already included a run-scoring sac fly, an HBP, and a sliding catch that stole a hit — exactly the brand the Phillies sought when they added him. Before the series, Bader laid out the mindset that defines this clubhouse:
