Ohtani, Hernández Power Dodgers Past Reds 10–5 in Playoff Slugfest/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández each homered twice as the Dodgers crushed the Reds 10–5 in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series. Blake Snell pitched seven dominant innings with nine strikeouts, while L.A. matched a franchise playoff record with five home runs. The Reds made a late push, but shaky bullpen work wasn’t enough to derail the Dodgers’ explosive start.
Dodgers vs. Reds Game 1 Quick Looks
- Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández hit 2 home runs each
- Dodgers tied franchise postseason record with 5 total home runs
- Blake Snell struck out 9 over 7 innings, allowed just two runs
- Dodgers collected 15 hits in a dominant offensive display
- Reds’ Hunter Greene gave up 5 runs, 3 homers in 3 innings
- Ohtani’s first homer came off a 100.4 mph fastball, a career first
- Dodgers bullpen allowed 3 runs and 4 walks in 8th inning
- Reds cut deficit to 10–5 but couldn’t close the gap
- Game 2: Yamamoto (LAD) vs. Littell (CIN) on Wednesday night
Deep Look
Ohtani, Hernández Lead Home Run Barrage as Dodgers Overwhelm Reds in Wild Card Game 1
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández put on a postseason power show as the Los Angeles Dodgers crushed the Cincinnati Reds 10–5 in Game 1 of their National League Wild Card Series on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.
The duo combined for four home runs, including a leadoff blast from Ohtani and a three-run shot by Hernández that set the tone early. The Dodgers pounded out 15 hits and five homers, tying a franchise playoff record, as they began their bid to become the first repeat World Series champions in 25 years.
Ohtani Ignites Dodger Stadium with Monster Leadoff Homer
Ohtani, who led MLB with 55 homers during the regular season, wasted no time making an impact in the postseason. In the bottom of the first, he crushed a 117.7 mph leadoff homer off Reds ace Hunter Greene, who was throwing a 100.4 mph fastball — the fastest pitch Ohtani has ever homered on in the majors.
“It was a really hard pitch to hit, but I felt like I reacted pretty well,” Ohtani said through a translator. “I was happy I was able to help the team score early.”
Ohtani later added a towering 454-foot, two-run homer in the sixth inning off Connor Phillips, finishing with two home runs and three strikeouts in a true boom-or-bust night at the plate.
Snell Shines in First Dodgers Playoff Start
Blake Snell, the reigning NL Cy Young winner, delivered one of the best postseason starts of his career. He retired the first eight batters he faced and struck out nine over seven innings, allowing just three hits and two earned runs.
“I felt really in control,” Snell said. “Could read swings and just kind of navigate through the lineup the way I wanted to.”
The only hit he surrendered through six was a third-inning double by Matt McClain. The Reds finally got on the board in the seventh via an Elly De La Cruz groundout and a Tyler Stephenson RBI double.
Reds’ Greene Falters in Hometown Postseason Debut
Reds starter Hunter Greene, pitching in his hometown of Los Angeles, couldn’t overcome the moment. He lasted just three innings, allowing five runs and three home runs on 65 pitches. Greene walked three and struck out four in what manager Terry Francona called a “disappointing outing.”
“He didn’t locate,” Francona said. “And when he didn’t locate, he really paid a price.”
Greene’s struggles were evident in the third inning, when he walked Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy back-to-back. After a wild pitch advanced both runners, Teoscar Hernández drilled a three-run homer to left. Tommy Edman followed with a solo shot, pushing the Dodgers ahead 5–0.
Hernández wasn’t done. Facing Phillips in the fifth, he launched another two-strike homer, finishing the night with two homers and four RBIs.
Bullpen Woes Let Reds Back In — Briefly
The Dodgers bullpen nearly opened the door for a Reds comeback in the eighth. Relievers Alex Vesia, Edgardo Henriquez, and Jack Dreyer combined to walk four batters and allowed three runs in a laborious inning that required 59 pitches to complete.
“When you’re on the attack, those guys are on their heels,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “But when you get behind and start giving free bases, that’s how you let them build innings and momentum.”
Despite the late push, Cincinnati couldn’t close the gap. The Dodgers maintained control thanks to the cushion built by their explosive offense.
Up Next: Game 2
The Dodgers will look to close out the series Wednesday night. They’ll send Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12–8, 2.49 ERA) to the mound against Reds right-hander Zack Littell (10–8, 3.81 ERA). A win would send L.A. to a Division Series matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies.
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