Oct 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm (25) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh inning during game one of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher
PHILADELPHIA – On a beautiful October night, in front of 45,777 fans in attendance, the Philadelphia Phillies scored three runs off of reigning NL MVP Shohei Ohtani in an electric second inning.
They then proceeded to give up five unanswered runs and lose Game 1 of the National League Division Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers by a final score of 5-3.
Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sánchez sent Citizens Bank Park into a frenzy by striking out Ohtani in three pitches:
It took Cristopher Sánchez only three pitches to strike out Shohei Ohtani in a scoreless top of the first. 😱
pic.twitter.com/E8T8XKxZwg
After a nine-pitch first inning, Sánchez faced some traffic on the bases in the top of the second. Although he faced six batters, he allowed none to score.
Ohtani also faced six batters in his half of the second inning. He didn't fare quite as well as Sánchez. Alec Bohm started off the second with a walk, Brandon Marsh knocked a single through the gap, and then J.T. Realmuto stepped up to the plate:
J.T. Realmuto can still run for days 💨
pic.twitter.com/ilx6gFKk7L
Realmuto's first career postseason triple was definitely aided by Teoscar Hernández's questionable defense, but two runs crossed the plate nonetheless.
Harrison Bader then sent Realmuto home with an RBI sacrifice fly, putting the Phillies up 3-0:
It’s ok to admit it, you thought this Harrison Bader sac fly was going to leave the stadium. 🪰
(Via @AntSanPhilly)
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Ohtani couldn't touch Sánchez. The pitchers faced off three times, and the result was the same each time:
Cristopher Sánchez has faced Shohei Ohtani three times tonight.
Cristopher Sánchez has struck Shohei Ohtani out three times tonight.
(Via @ToddZolecki)
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Sánchez navigated through five shutout innings before he ran into trouble in the sixth. He got the first two outs, but then allowed a walk to Freddie Freeman, a single to Tommy Edman and a two-run RBI double to Kiké Hernandez:
#Postseason Kiké has arrived 👀
The @Dodgers pull within a run! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/sOl62jaS35
David Robertson entered in relief of Sánchez, who finished the night with 5 2/3 innings pitched, four hits, two earned runs, two walks and eight strikeouts.
Ohtani departed the game after the bottom of the sixth. Those three runs he gave up in the second inning were the only three he allowed. He allowed three hits and one walk while striking out nine Phillies.
Robertson stayed in the game for the top of the seventh. An Andy Pages single and a Will Smith hit by pitch put runners on first and second with no outs. Matt Strahm entered to face the top of the Dodgers' order and got the first two outs, but couldn't get Teoscar Hernández out for the third. Instead, Hernández sent a ball into the right field seats:
TEOSCAR HERNÁNDEZ. pic.twitter.com/m9yiRwPmrh
The Phillies offense had a golden opportunity to answer in the bottom of the eighth, but they couldn't pull it off after Tyler Glasnow walked Bohm to load the bases with two outs. Edmundo Sosa, pinch hitting for Marsh, flew out to center field, and the inning ended.
To add injury to insult, Bader left the game after the top of the seventh inning with what the Phillies are calling a left hamstring strain. It's unclear how severe it is, or how long he'll potentially be out.
The top of the Phillies' order was wholly ineffective Saturday night. Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper combined to go 1-for-11 with one walk and six strikeouts.
Roki Sasaki closed out the bottom of the ninth, and the Phillies lost 5-3.
The Phillies will be back at Citizens Bank Park again 6:08 p.m. Monday evening to try and even up the series against the Dodgers.
