In a display of postseason dominance, the Los Angeles Dodgers dispatched the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series on Wednesday night, completing a swift two-game sweep and punching their ticket to the Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The victory, coming on the heels of a 10-5 romp in the opener, showcased the Dodgers' relentless offense once again, though not without some late-inning jitters that tested their bullpen.
Game 1 had set the tone with a home run barrage—five in total, including two each from Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández—that overwhelmed Reds starter Nick Martinez and left Cincinnati scrambling. Ohtani's power surge, following a solid regular season, reminded everyone why the Dodgers invested so heavily in their star lineup. Indeed, the Dodgers scored early and often, building an insurmountable lead behind Blake Snell's sharp seven-inning stint, where he allowed just two runs.
Turning to Game 2, things started shakily for Los Angeles. The Reds jumped ahead with two unearned runs in the first, capitalizing on defensive miscues. But the Dodgers responded with authority, plating eight runs over the next few frames, highlighted by timely hits from Mookie Betts and a crucial RBI double from Hernández. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, making his playoff debut, steadied the ship after a rocky start, tossing five solid innings while striking out six. However, the bullpen wobbled in the later innings, with Blake Treinen navigating a tense eighth to preserve the win. Cincinnati's Tony Santillan and the relief corps fought valiantly, but it wasn't enough against LA's depth.
This sweep marks the Dodgers' eighth straight playoff appearance, a testament to their roster's resilience despite injury hurdles during the year. The Reds, meanwhile, exit early again, their young core showing promise but lacking the experience to match LA's firepower. As the Dodgers shift focus to Philadelphia—where a rematch with old rivals awaits—one can't help but wonder if this momentum will carry them deeper into October, or if the Phillies' ace-laden staff will finally crack the code.