Ohtani Leads Dodgers to Game 1 Win Despite Four Strikeouts

The Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off their NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies with a gritty 5–3 win. Shohei Ohtani shined on the mound, even though he struggled at the plate.

The game felt like a rollercoaster—resilience, records, and a few surprises. Ohtani pitched with authority, Teoscar Hernández came up huge with the bat, and rookie reliever Roki Sasaki grabbed his first postseason save.

Shohei Ohtani’s Dual Role: Struggle at the Plate, Mastery on the Mound

Shohei Ohtani came into Game 1 with the weight of expectations. At the plate, though, he struck out four times, and the Philadelphia crowd let him have it with relentless boos.

He shrugged it off and shifted gears once he took the mound. That ability to compartmentalize—honestly, not everyone has it—turned his night around.

Pitching Dominance After Early Trouble

Ohtani got into trouble early, giving up three runs in the second inning. But then he found his groove and retired 15 of the last 17 batters he faced.

He struck out nine in six innings. Facing the Phillies’ big bats—Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper—he didn’t let any of them get a hit, fanning them five times.

Manager Dave Roberts pointed to Ohtani’s mental toughness. He said Ohtani’s ability to block out his struggles at the plate and just focus on pitching is what separates the best from the rest, especially in October.

Teoscar Hernández’s Game-Changing Blast

While Ohtani kept the Phillies quiet, the Dodgers needed someone to step up offensively. Teoscar Hernández answered the call.

In the seventh, with two on and two out, Ohtani struck out in a big spot. Hernández followed and smashed a three-run homer, flipping the script in the Dodgers’ favor.

Turning the Game Around

That homer gave the Dodgers the lead and sucked the energy out of the Philly crowd. It’s wild how one swing can flip everything in postseason baseball.

Historic Contribution from Roki Sasaki

The Dodgers’ bullpen held strong. Alex Vesia handled things after Ohtani left, then rookie Roki Sasaki took over.

Sasaki, making his MLB postseason debut, pitched a perfect ninth for his first career save. Not a bad way to introduce yourself.

A First in Postseason History

Ohtani and Sasaki made a bit of history together. It’s the first time a Japanese-born starter and reliever have combined for a win and save in the same postseason game.

Honestly, it’s pretty cool to see the Dodgers’ international scouting pay off like this.

Overcoming the Philadelphia Challenge

Ohtani had his own battle with Citizens Bank Park. He’s never homered there, and that didn’t change this game.

The Philly crowd was relentless, booing him at every chance. Ohtani said once he started pitching, though, the nerves faded away.

From Surgery to Stardom Again

Ohtani’s coming off elbow surgery in 2023, and his return to two-way stardom has been a huge story this year. His Game 1 performance just reminded everyone he’s not just a hitter—he’s an ace who can take over when it matters.

Key Takeaways from Game 1

This one was all about resilience. The Dodgers showed, yet again, why nobody ever counts them out in October.

• Ohtani’s mental toughness stood out, even though he went 0-for-4 at the plate.
• Dominant pitching led to nine strikeouts and kept the Phillies’ big bats quiet.
• Teoscar Hernández’s clutch three-run homer completely shifted the game’s momentum.
• Historic Japanese pitching duo—Ohtani and Sasaki—teamed up for the win and the save.

 
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