Dodgers Smash Reds 10-5 in Wild Card Game 1

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers stormed into the 2025 postseason with a 10-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series on Tuesday night. Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández each hit two home runs, while Blake Snell dominated on the mound. The Dodgers are now one win away from the NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Ohtani Sets the Tone Early

Shohei Ohtani wasted no time energizing Dodger Stadium. He crushed a 117.7 mph leadoff homer in the first inning. In the fourth, he added a 454-foot blast to straightaway center. According to Statcast, Ohtani is the first player since 2015 to hit a 115+ mph and 450+ foot homer in the same playoff game.

The performance evoked memories of his postseason debut last fall and showed why the Dodgers made him their centerpiece free-agent signing.

Hernández Sparks Four-Run Rally

Teoscar Hernández delivered the night’s biggest swing. With Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy on base in the third, Hernández turned on a hanging slider from Hunter Greene. His three-run shot gave the Dodgers a commanding lead.

“That was a huge momentum swing,” Muncy said. “Hunter Greene’s a tough pitcher. Getting him out early is big.”

Tommy Edman followed with a solo homer, capping a four-run inning that forced Cincinnati to pull Greene after just three innings.

Snell Shuts Down Reds

Blake Snell, making his Dodgers postseason debut, silenced Cincinnati over seven innings. The left-hander struck out nine and allowed only two runs. He leaned heavily on his changeup, generating a career-best 15 swing-and-misses.

“He mixed speeds so well — 82, 87, then 97 [mph],” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “That’s tough for any hitter to adjust to.”

It was Snell’s longest postseason outing and one of his sharpest playoff starts to date.

Dodgers Survive Bullpen Scare

The Dodgers led 10-2 after seven, but their bullpen nearly unraveled. Alex Vesia, Edgardo Henriquez, and rookie Jack Dreyer combined for four walks and two hits in the eighth. The Reds trimmed the deficit to five runs and loaded the bases.

Dreyer escaped by retiring Tyler Stephenson on an 11-pitch battle, then got Ke’Bryan Hayes to ground out. Blake Treinen handled the ninth with ease, sealing the victory.

According to ESPN Research, Dodgers relievers threw 59 pitches in the eighth inning — the most in a postseason frame since at least 1988.

One Win from the NLDS

The Dodgers will now try to close out the series in Game 2 on Wednesday night. History favors them: in the first four Wild Card series, the Game 1 winner advanced 18 of 20 times.

“We just need to play the same game tomorrow,” shortstop Mookie Betts said. “No need to be superheroes. Just execute.”

The winner of the series advances to face the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Division Series.

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