The Los Angeles Dodgers hit five home runs to defeat the Cincinnati Reds, 10-5, in Game 1 of the 2025 National League Wild Card Series, putting themselves one win away from advancing to the NL Division Series.
Teoscar Hernández and Shohei Ohtani each hit two homers in the game, while Tommy Edman also added one of his own. That proved to be more than enough offense as Blake Snell was dominant in his outing with six shutout innings before finally allowing two in the seventh.
Ohtani started the Dodgers off immediately with a leadoff homer in the first inning, and they didn’t look back from there.
Hernández hit his first homer in the third inning, a three-run shot following walks from Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy, which put the Dodgers up 4-0. Edman then followed with a solo home run to further extend the lead.
That was the seventh time the Dodgers have hit back-to-back homers in the postseason. Their last time was when Hernández and Freeman hit consecutive long balls in Game 2 of the World Series last year.
Hernández hit his second of the night in the fifth inning, and it was the third solo homer by the Dodgers in the game, making it 6-0. Ohtani’s second homer came in the sixth inning, this time a two-run blast after a single from Kiké Hernández.
The Dodgers’ five home runs in the game tied a franchise record for them in the postseason.
The offense didn’t stop even when the Dodgers started to bring in their backups. Miguel Rojas singled in the seventh and scored on another single from Alex Call. Ben Rortvedt then singled home Call to make give the Dodgers their 10th run.
As for the pitching, Snell set down the first eight batters he faced before allowing a two-out double in the third inning. But that didn’t come back to haunt him as he ended up striking out Noveli Marte to end the inning.
Snell retired the next 11 batters he faced, which took him into the seventh inning with one out. The left-hander then gave up a pair of singles, and the Reds got on the board as the Dodgers were unable to turn a double play on Elly De La Cruz.
Tyler Stephenson ended up doubling home De La Cruz to make it an 8-2 game before Snell got out of the inning. That ended Snell’s outing with seven innings pitched, allowing two runs on four hits with nine strikeouts and one walk.
Alex Vesia was called upon for the eighth inning, and things quickly went downhill for the Dodgers, as has often been the case with the bullpen. Vesia allowed a single and walk before coming out of the game with one out.
Edgardo Henriquez took over and walked two hitters to bring in a run for the Reds, then he allowed a single that made it 10-4. Jack Dreyer replaced Henriquez and he allowed a walk to give the Reds their third run of the inning before he finally retired the next two batters.
Blake Treinen pitched the ninth, striking out the first two hitters before allowing a single to Gavin Lux and then getting a ground out to end it.
Dodgers vs. Reds Wild Card Game 2 details
The Wild Card series resumes tomorrow with Yoshinobu Yamamoto lined up to face Zack Littell. The game will once again be played at Dodger Stadium with another 6:08 p.m. PT start time on ESPN.
If the Dodgers win, they would advance to face the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS, but if the Reds win, it would force a do-or-die Game 3 of the Series on Thursday. A Game 3 would still be at Dodger Stadium, but the start time would depend on how the other Wild Card Series go with it currently scheduled for 6:08 p.m. again.
The winner of Game 1 of the Wild Card Series has advanced to the DS 18 of 20 times under the current format.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
