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.
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)
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.
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)
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:
“Winning baseball is a universal language… You can’t play hero ball. Take your single, have a good at-bat, pass the baton. When the noise increases, the process is what matters.” (ASAP Sports)
Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Harrison Bader catches a pop-foul out by Los Angeles Dodgers’ Andy Pages during the fifth inning in Game 1 of baseball’s National League Division Series, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
And on seeing Ohtani and the Dodgers late in the season:
“You’re gathering information… the routes, how the ball skips in center when it gets wet at night — all the little things that become big things.” (ASAP Sports)
That is exactly how the first seven innings looked for Philadelphia — until one swing flipped it.
Realmuto reached on an error to open the seventh, but Nick Castellanos — pinch-hitting for Bader — rolled into a double play. In the eighth, Bryce Harper singled and Alec Bohm walked to load the bases before Edmundo Sosa flied out to center.
Left-hander Alex Vesia needed only three pitches to end the inning and preserve the lead.
Roki Sasaki, 23, took the ninth for his first MLB postseason appearance. He struck out Realmuto with a splitter, yielded a double to Germany’s Max Kepler, then calmly induced a groundout from Castellanos and a foul pop from Bryson Stott to end it — Sasaki’s first MLB save.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki reacts after the Dodgers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of baseball’s National League Division Series, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Roberts on tapping starters and young arms in new roles this October:
“You’ve just got to rip the Band-Aid off… I’m going to go with the best talent, whoever is available that night if it makes sense.” (ASAP Sports)
Pre-game and post-game, the scene matched the stakes.
“I haven’t missed a playoff game in four years,” said Tyler from South Philadelphia outside the gates. “Rob’s a dog. We win this series, it’s a big run.”
https://youtube.com/shorts/xr-ONj21fT4
“There’s no way the Dodgers get outta here with a victory,” laughed Mike from Northern Liberties. “And if you’re eating after, go to Skinny Joey’s.”
Both fan hits were recorded on site for World Baseball Network’s Baseball Without Borders: Fan Voices series.
Mookie and Bryce chit chatting at second pic.twitter.com/X42WNmQrpB
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 5, 2025
From the Pacific to the Caribbean, this opener reflected how international the National League has become:
Shohei Ohtani (Japan) — 6 IP, 9 K, first MLB postseason win
Teoscar Hernández (Dominican Republic) — 3-run HR
Enrique Hernández (Puerto Rico) — 2-run double
Roki Sasaki (Japan) — 1 IP, 1 K, first MLB save
Andy Pages (Cuba) — on base, scored in seventh
Philadelphia’s thread was just as present: Cristopher Sánchez (Dominican Republic) setting the tone, Max Kepler (Germany) stretching a double in the ninth, and Bader (Team Israel alum) patrolling center with impact.
This is October 2025 — Baseball Without Borders on full display.
Los Angeles Dodgers 5, Philadelphia Phillies 3
W: Shohei Ohtani (1–0, 4.50 ERA)
L: David Robertson (0–1, 54.00 ERA)
S: Roki Sasaki (1, 0.00 ERA)
Player of the Game: Teoscar Hernández — 1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI (+46.5 WPA)
Enrique Hernández 2 RBI; J.T. Realmuto 3B, 2 RBI; Cristopher Sánchez 8 K
The Dodgers lead the NLDS 1–0.
Sunday is an off day. Game 2 is Monday at 6:08 PM ET on TBS — Blake Snell (5–4, 2.35) vs Jesús Luzardo (15–7, 3.92).
Jhoan Duran is expected to be available again for Philadelphia on Monday, aiming to enter in a cleaner lane after a tight finish in Game 1.
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