Phillies Lose Game 1 NLDS After Blowing 3-0 Lead to Dodgers

The Philadelphia Phillies lost Game 1 of the 2025 National League Division Series (NLDS) to the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3, continuing a trend of postseason struggles marked by an anemic offense and bullpen issues. Despite an early three-run lead fueled by J.T. Realmuto's two-run triple, the Phillies' top hitters, including Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper, combined for only one hit in 11 at-bats and six strikeouts, failing to capitalize on multiple scoring opportunities. Shohei Ohtani's pitching for the Dodgers stifled the Phillies' lineup, particularly shutting down the top of the order with a dominant performance. A pivotal three-run homer by Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández in the seventh inning off Phillies reliever Matt Strahm shifted momentum decisively in favor of Los Angeles. While the city of Philadelphia remains optimistic, the Phillies' recent postseason performance includes losing six of seven playoff games since the 2023 NLCS, with a notable scarcity of runs scored and clutch hitting. The loss underscores ongoing challenges with both offensive production and bullpen reliability as the Phillies seek to advance in the playoffs.