The Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off their 2025 postseason campaign with an emphatic 10-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of their National League wild-card series. While the offense exploded and the starting pitching shined, a late-game bullpen meltdown served as a stark reminder of the team’s persistent Achilles' heel.
Playing at Dodger Stadium, the home team wasted no time asserting their dominance. Superstar Shohei Ohtani set the tone immediately, launching a leadoff home run in the first inning – the first of his two blasts on the night. Blake Snell, the Dodgers' starter, was equally impressive, navigating seven strong innings, surrendering only two runs and effectively stifling the Reds' lineup. The offensive onslaught continued in the third inning when Teoscar Hernández smashed a three-run homer, followed immediately by Tommy Edman’s solo shot, extending the lead significantly. Manager Dave Roberts praised the team's execution, noting, "It was a well-executed game plan."
However, what began as a comfortable rout quickly turned into a tense affair in the eighth inning. Holding a commanding 10-2 lead, the Dodgers' notoriously inconsistent bullpen took the mound and nearly squandered the game. Three different relievers collectively issued four walks, two with the bases loaded, allowing three runs to cross the plate. What was once an insurmountable advantage suddenly felt precarious, with the tying run potentially on deck.
Despite the sudden drama, the Dodgers ultimately closed out the game, securing the crucial Game 1 win. The performance, however, offered a paradoxical message: the team's star-studded offense, which matched a franchise postseason record with five home runs, and stellar starting pitching make them strong contenders for an unprecedented repeat championship. Yet, the bullpen's propensity for unraveling could prove to be their undoing.
Looking ahead to Game 2, the Dodgers send ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the mound, aiming to sweep the best-of-three series. While a victory seems probable, the concerns surrounding the relief corps linger. As manager Roberts acknowledged regarding the bullpen's struggles, "If we don’t feel comfortable using certain guys with an eight-run lead, then we’ve got to think through some things." The path to a second consecutive World Series title for the Dodgers will undoubtedly hinge on whether they can stabilize their late-inning relief or simply out-slug their opponents and ride their dominant starters through the October crucible.
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Originally published at: https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2025-09-30/dodgers-cincinnati-reds-game-1-wild-card
