Ohtani Leads Dodgers to 5-3 NLDS Game 1 Victory Over Phillies

Shohei Ohtani made a historic and impactful postseason pitching debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Despite a rocky second inning where he allowed three runs, Ohtani struck out nine batters over six innings, demonstrating his dominance on the mound. Although Ohtani struggled offensively, striking out four times, his teammate Teoscar Hernández's three-run homer in the seventh inning rallied the Dodgers to a 5-3 victory. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Ohtani's ability to compartmentalize his pitching and hitting struggles, highlighting the unique challenge and skill of being a two-way player. The victory underscores the Dodgers' strategic advantage with Ohtani's dual-threat capability and sets a confident tone for the series, with strong pitching depth anticipated in upcoming games. Ohtani and reliever Roki Sasaki made history as the first Japanese-born starter and reliever to earn a win and save in the same postseason game, further emphasizing the significance of their performance.