Ohtani Leads Dodgers’ Rally in NLDS Game 1 vs Phillies

In a thrilling opener to the National League Division Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers showed their resilience by coming from behind to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 5–3 at Citizens Bank Park.

Early struggles, standout moments, and a gritty mental edge set the tone. Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates had hammered home a pre-game message about composure, and it stuck.

Shohei Ohtani made his much-anticipated postseason pitching debut. The Dodgers fought through a wild Philly crowd and a shaky start to grab a critical Game 1 win in this best-of-five series.

Early Trouble for Shohei Ohtani

Postseason debuts always come with pressure. For Shohei Ohtani, that pressure hit fast.

The two-way superstar got knocked around in the second inning, giving up three runs. J.T. Realmuto smashed a booming two-run triple, and Citizens Bank Park went nuts as the Phillies jumped ahead.

Ohtani’s command wavered for a moment. He looked rattled, honestly.

Ohtani’s Strong Recovery

But Ohtani regrouped. Over his final four innings, he kept the Phillies off the board and racked up nine strikeouts.

Even after striking out four times at the plate, he didn’t let it get to him. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Ohtani’s focus—he managed to separate pitching from hitting, even with the noise and pressure.

Philadelphia’s Early Dominance

The Phillies got sharp early innings from starter Cristopher Sánchez. He kept Dodgers hitters guessing and controlled the pace well into the middle innings.

Philadelphia’s strategy was clear: take advantage of Ohtani’s rocky start and ride Sánchez’s arm as far as possible.

Turning Point in the Sixth

Momentum shifted in the top of the sixth inning. With two outs, Kiké Hernández ripped a clutch RBI double, cutting the Dodgers’ deficit to 3–2.

That hit sparked the Dodgers. You could feel their confidence growing against the Phillies’ bullpen.

Teoscar Hernández’s Game-Changing Blast

Just an inning later, everything flipped. Facing reliever Matt Strahm, Teoscar Hernández crushed a towering three-run homer into the night.

The Philly crowd went silent as the score jumped to 5–3, Dodgers. That blast didn’t just give L.A. the lead—it sucked the energy right out of Citizens Bank Park.

Shutting the Door

From there, the Dodgers’ bullpen locked in. Tyler Glasnow, who’s actually lined up to start Game 4, made a surprise relief appearance and tossed a perfect seventh.

In the eighth, Alex Vesia wriggled out of a bases-loaded jam, keeping the two-run cushion. Rookie closer Roki Sasaki took the ball in the ninth and nailed down his first career save, sealing Game 1 for Los Angeles.

The Power of Composure

Bates’ pre-game reminder to stay composed amid Philadelphia’s intense atmosphere stuck with the Dodgers. Every big moment in the comeback showed real discipline—no panic after the early deficit, patient at-bats, and a calm bullpen when it mattered most.

Implications for the Series

With the win, Los Angeles grabs a crucial 1–0 lead in the series. In a short best-of-five, stealing Game 1 on the road changes everything:

• The Phillies have to play catch-up right away.
• The Dodgers get more options with their pitching rotation.
• It gives the clubhouse a confidence boost, especially for newcomers like Ohtani and Sasaki.

Final Thoughts

Game 1 of the NLDS wasn’t just a win. It felt like a statement—proof that the Dodgers can deliver when the pressure’s on and everyone’s watching.

Shohei Ohtani bounced back after a shaky start. Teoscar Hernández smashed a clutch home run that really shifted the mood in the stadium.

The bullpen came in and just shut things down after the second inning. Los Angeles looked sharp in every phase once they found their footing.

The Phillies? They’ve got to regroup fast with the series heating up. October baseball rarely gives you time to breathe.

Would you like me to also create a **meta description** and a set of **SEO keywords** for this blog post so it’s ready for web publication?

 
Here is the source article for this story: Dodgers show their resiliency again in NLDS Game 1 comeback win over Phillies