The Los Angeles Dodgers opened their World Series title defense with a commanding 10-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of their National League wild-card series Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.
Blake Snell delivered in his playoff debut for Los Angeles, striking out nine batters over seven innings while allowing just one hit through six scoreless frames. The southpaw looked every bit the ace the Dodgers expected when they signed him.
The offense exploded early and often. Teoscar Hernández launched two home runs, including a three-run blast in the third inning that broke the game open. Shohei Ohtani went deep twice as well, capping his night with a 454-foot bomb in the seventh.
What started as a pitcher’s duel between Snell and Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene turned into a showcase for the Dodgers’ depth. They scored in five different innings and got contributions throughout the lineup.
The Reds didn’t go quietly. They mounted a late rally in the seventh and eighth innings, scoring five runs to make things interesting. Elly De La Cruz worked two walks with the bases loaded, and the Reds showed the fight that got them to this point under manager Terry Francona.
But it wasn’t nearly enough.
Game Recap
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Reds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Dodgers | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | X |
Los Angeles jumped on Greene early with a leadoff home run in the first, then blew things open with a four-run third inning. Hernández’s three-run shot was the big blow, followed immediately by Tommy Edman’s solo homer.
The way Snell was dealing, that felt like plenty. He dominated the Reds’ lineup through six innings, allowing just a two-out double in the third before striking out the next batter. His nine strikeouts included getting De La Cruz, Cincinnati’s most dynamic offensive threat.
Hernández added his second homer in the fifth – an opposite-field shot that showcased his power to all parts of the ballpark. Then Ohtani got in on the fun with his two-run blast in the seventh, a moonshot that traveled 454 feet.
That’s when things got interesting. The Reds finally broke through against Snell in the seventh, scoring twice on a combination of hustle plays and timely hitting. Tyler Stephenson’s RBI double got them on the board.
They kept coming in the eighth, adding three more runs against the Dodgers’ bullpen. Bases-loaded walks and an RBI single from Spencer Steer made it 10-5 and had the crowd stirring.
Blake Treinen came in to close it out in the ninth, retiring the side to secure the victory.
What’s Next
Game 2 is Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 9:00 PM ET. The series shifts to a win-or-go-home scenario for Cincinnati, who’ll need to find a way to slow down this Dodgers offense.
Los Angeles showed why they’re the defending champions and heavy favorites in this series. Their lineup has multiple ways to beat you, and when Snell’s on like he was Tuesday night, they’re going to be tough to handle.
The Reds proved they belong here with their late rally, but they’ll need much more production early in the game to have a real chance. Francona’s got his work cut out for him, but if anyone can find a way to extend this series, it’s a manager of his caliber.
For now, though, the Dodgers are one win away from advancing to the next round of there title defense.
