In a display of raw offensive firepower, the Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off their NL Wild Card Series with a resounding 10-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández each smashed two home runs, setting the tone early and often in what felt like a postseason statement. The Dodgers, seeded as the top wild card, wasted no time asserting dominance against a scrappy Reds squad that had clawed its way into the playoffs.
Ohtani, ever the phenomenon, led off the bottom of the first with a towering solo shot to left field, his first postseason homer in a Dodgers uniform, echoing his dramatic debut last year. Hernández followed suit, belting a two-run blast in the second that chased Reds starter Hunter Greene after just 1⅓ innings. Indeed, the duo's combined four homers accounted for seven of the Dodgers' 10 runs, a brutal reminder of their lineup's depth. But the bullpen, a lingering concern from the regular season, wobbled late, allowing the Reds to scratch across five runs. Closer Evan Phillips steadied the ship, though, preserving the win despite the unease.
Moreover, Blake Snell delivered a strong outing on the mound for Los Angeles, striking out nine over seven innings while surrendering only two runs. It was a far cry from the Dodgers' injury-plagued rotation woes earlier in the year. Hernández, thriving in his return to the playoffs after a stellar regular season with 33 homers and 99 RBIs, looked every bit the clutch performer. Ohtani, meanwhile, added to his MVP-caliber campaign, now boasting 54 homers and 130 RBIs from the regular year. However, the Reds fought back with homers from Elly De La Cruz and Jonathan India, hinting at their potential to steal Game 2 if the Dodgers' relief corps falters again.
The series now shifts to a decisive Game 2 on Wednesday, with the Dodgers one win away from advancing to face the Phillies in the Division Series. As the playoffs unfold, one can't help but wonder if this early explosion signals a deep run for Los Angeles—or merely a fleeting high in October's unforgiving grind.