Los Angeles Dodgers Dominate Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of Wild Card Series

The Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off their National League Wild Card Series with a commanding 10-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium, powered by an offensive explosion that included five home runs—tying a franchise postseason record. The highlight of the night came from Shohei Ohtani, who launched two homers, including a Statcast-projected 454-foot blast, the longest in Dodgers postseason history. Ohtani wasted no time making his mark, smashing a leadoff home run off Reds ace Hunter Greene in the first inning. The 117.7 mph exit velocity off a 100.4 mph fastball marked the fastest pitch Ohtani has ever homered on in MLB, showcasing his remarkable ability to handle elite velocity. Ohtani later added a two-run shot in the sixth, and though he struck out three times, his contributions set the tone for the Dodgers’ offense. Teoscar Hernández matched Ohtani with two home runs of his own, while Tommy Edman also went deep, underlining the depth and power throughout the Dodgers’ lineup. Hernández, who closed the regular season on a six-game hitting streak, went 3-for-5 in Game 1, while Kiké Hernández chipped in with two hits before leaving with back tightness. On the mound, 2022 Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell delivered a stellar performance, striking out nine over seven innings and allowing just two runs on four hits. He retired the first eight batters and only encountered trouble in the seventh, when the Reds finally broke through with runs from Elly De La Cruz and Tyler Stephenson. Snell’s dominance left little room for Cincinnati to mount an early threat. Hunter Greene, making his postseason debut in his hometown, endured a rough outing for the Reds. He lasted only three innings, surrendering five runs—including three homers—on six hits and throwing 65 pitches. Greene struck out four and walked three, struggling with command throughout. As Reds manager Terry Francona noted, missed locations proved costly: “He didn’t locate, and when he didn’t locate he really paid a price for that.” The Reds’ bullpen was tested early, with Scott Barlow providing a bright spot by retiring all five batters he faced with four strikeouts. However, relievers Connor Phillips and Graham Ashcraft each allowed home runs to the Dodgers’ sluggers. Offensively, the Reds showed signs of life late, plating three runs in the eighth, but their rally fell short as the Dodgers’ lead proved insurmountable. This result puts Cincinnati’s season on the brink, as teams that win Game 1 at home in a best-of-three Wild Card Series have gone on to sweep the series every time since the format’s introduction in 2020. Historically, Game 1 winners take the series 90% of the time (18 of 20), placing even more pressure on the Reds to bounce back in Game 2. Looking ahead, the pitching matchup for Game 2 features Reds right-hander Zack Littell (10-8, 3.81 ERA) against Dodgers star Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.49 ERA). Littell, acquired from the Rays midseason, brings postseason experience but has struggled when facing lineups multiple times through. Yamamoto, in his sophomore MLB campaign, anchored Los Angeles’ rotation and previously dominated the Reds with nine strikeouts over seven innings in their July 28 meeting. The Dodgers’ offense appears locked in, while Cincinnati will need contributions from key hitters like Spencer Steer—who continued his hot streak in Game 1—and Matt McLain, who showed signs of breaking out of a slump. Notably, the Reds have now lost seven consecutive postseason games dating back to 2012. First pitch for Game 2 is set for 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT at Dodger Stadium and will be broadcast on ESPN. The Dodgers are one win away from advancing to face the Phillies in the NL Division Series, while the Reds face a must-win scenario to keep their postseason hopes alive. For more detailed stats and play-by-play breakdowns, visit the official ESPN box score or the MLB.com Game 2 preview.