Comeback steals a game behind Enrique & Teoscar Hernandez, Roki Sasaki emerges as closer – Dodgers Digest

Hello and welcome from the NLDS, and what a damn game it was to start the series against the Phillies. Things looked bleak early as Cristopher Sanchez was dominant early and Shohei Ohtani faltered just a bit in the 2nd inning to give the Phillies an early lead. But out of nothing, Enrique Hernandez drove in a pair of runs and Teoscar Hernandez won it with a big homer as Tyler Glasnow, Alex Vesia, and Roki Sasaki managed to close out the final three innings in a 5-3 victory.

Me before every game: “I’ll write the recap so I don’t hyperfocus on every pitch and remain calm.”

Me by the fourth inning of a close game: Nothing written, pissing and shitting and throwing up.

— Chad Moriyama (@chadmoriyama.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 3:26 PM

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On the bump for his first postseason start was Shohei Ohtani, and he started about as well as possible with a 12-pitch inning in the 1st that included a strikeout.

Shohei Ohtani strikes out the first batter he faces in his first career #Postseason start! pic.twitter.com/aB7pTy4UaI

— MLB (@MLB) October 4, 2025

Unfortunately, the 2nd didn’t go nearly as smoothly. A lead-off walk on a 3-2 pitch was followed by a single to put a pair on. It seemed like Shohei struggled to land his off-speed stuff and the Phillies honed in on the fastball, and J.T. Realmuto took advantage by sending one into right-center that got past an oddly jogging Teoscar Hernandez to the wall for a triple that plated a pair.

REAL-LY CLUTCH! pic.twitter.com/MNrSWIPfo6

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 4, 2025

After a groundout to third with the fielders in didn’t move Realmuto, Harrison Bader hit a sac fly to left to make it 3-0 to the Phillies before a strikeout finally ended the inning.

Another run, thank you! pic.twitter.com/o55kpuocoE

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 4, 2025

We knew it might be a problem, but Teoscar doing whatever that was cost them at least a run, if not two.

Ohtani did bounce back in the 3rd by getting through the top of the order again in order on just 11 pitches with a pair of strikeouts, and then cruised through the 4th as well with another K. The 5th was a big inning for him, as he started with a strikeout, but then hit a batter on an 0-2 count and gave up a single to put a pair on and threaten again. This time, though, he got a soft liner and a strikeout to squash that threat.

Ohtani then came out for the 6th to complete is outing with two more strikeouts on just 11 pitches.

He exited the game losing, but didn’t let the game get away from him and he kept the Dodgers within striking distance: 6 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 9 K, 89 Pitches.

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On the other side was their ace Cristopher Sanchez, who carved through the 1st inning with a pair of strikeouts and just nine pitches.

The Dodgers did better in the 2nd, as Freddie Freeman led things off with a single, though back-to-back groundouts only led to a runner at second. Alex Call then drew a walk to put a pair on, but Andy Pages struck out to end the threat.

The 3rd started with Ben Rortvedt getting hit on the forearm, but he didn’t move as Sanchez got the next three batters, including a pair of strikeouts. Sanchez continued to roll in the 4th with three groundouts in a row, and he worked around a lead-off single thanks to diving play by Bader to rob Andy Pages and then back-to-back strikeouts.

WHAT A PLAY.WHAT A GIFT. pic.twitter.com/8mqg6NBaUo

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 4, 2025

Cristopher Sánchez has struck out Shohei Ohtani THREE times tonight! ? pic.twitter.com/l3F9q7cdCY

— MLB (@MLB) October 5, 2025

At that point, Sanchez looked basically unhittable and the vibes were horrendous. That continued in the 6th when back-to-back outs started things, but then Sanchez issued a walk to Freddie Freeman, gave up an oppo single to Tommy Edman, and saw Senor October (Enrique Hernandez) rip a double down the line in left to plate two and make it just a 3-2 deficit. Out of nowhere the Dodgers were right back in it and Sanchez was out of the game.

October Kiké! pic.twitter.com/NslopR5cWS

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 5, 2025

Kiké Hernández loves October! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/W3Kmbbd05e

— MLB (@MLB) October 5, 2025

David Robertson entered and so Dave Roberts pinch-hit for Alex Call with Max Muncy, who got ahead 3-0 but then swung at three balls for a comeback to end the 6th.

He continued in the 7th and gave up a single to Andy Pages, then hit Will Smith on the shoulder with a pitch. That led to Matt Strahm entering, and he certainly did his job early on, striking out Shohei for the fourth time of the night and getting Mookie Betts to pop out. However, as he has done so often for the Dodgers, Teoscar Hernandez redeemed himself by hitting a 1-0 fastball oppo and out of the park for a three-run homer to give the Dodgers a sudden 5-3 lead!

TEOSCAR HERNÁNDEZ. pic.twitter.com/m9yiRwPmrh

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 5, 2025

SO clutch from Teo ? pic.twitter.com/3XQLK9jYJ5

— MLB (@MLB) October 5, 2025

Unreal scenes.

Strahm got the final out of the 7th, Orion Kerkering got a clean 8th, and Jhoan Duran issued just a two-out walk to Ohtani in the 9th, but thankfully it didn’t cost them.

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Due to the way the series is scheduled, starter Tyler Glasnow entered in relief for the 7th, likely with hopes that he would close things out. His day started with a hard shot to Max Muncy at third, who speared it, but then threw low to Freddie for a tough error. Glasnow then got a flyout and induced a groundball from pinch-hitter Nick Castellanos (Bader exited with injury) that resulted in a double-play to end the inning.

He continued in the 8th but was somewhat typically erratic. He went strikeout, walk, strikeout, single, and walk to load the bases.

Dave Roberts turned to Alex Vesia as Brandon Marsh is much better against righties, and Rob Thompson countered with Edmundo Sosa. Vesia got things to 1-1 and then induced a flyout to center to end the huge threat.

Alex Vesia preserves the @Dodgers lead! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/7kFd9aQGI6

— MLB (@MLB) October 5, 2025

Good god.

At that point, there was a choice to make for Dave, as Roki is the hot reliever but also a rookie in a new role in a hostile environment. But Dave went for the stuff over environment, and Roki rewarded him by stepping up. A strikeout started things, then a nice piece of hitting got him a double, but Roki was unfazed and got a groundout and foul out to end it and secure his first MLB save.

Roki Sasaki breaks out a FILTHY splitter for the strikeout! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/wc2GVGYctn

— MLB (@MLB) October 5, 2025

The @Dodgers take Game 1 on the road! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/0A3StNbDQh

— MLB (@MLB) October 5, 2025

Victory formation! pic.twitter.com/DZxl2NHDaa

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 5, 2025

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NLDS is 1-0 in favor of the Dodgers. Just a huge game.

The two teams will have a day off tomorrow, and will resume the series after that on TBS, truTV, and HBO Max at 12:08 PM HT/3:08 PM PT/6:08 PM ET. It’ll be Blake Snell on the bump up against Ranger Suarez.