Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández each slug two homers and Blake Snell strikes out nine as the Dodgers rout the Reds 10–5 in Game 1 of the NL Wild-Card Series. Full recap & analysis.
Cincinnati Reds vs Dodgers: One-line snapshot
The Los Angeles Dodgers jumped on the Cincinnati Reds early and never looked back — 10–5 in Game 1 of the National League Wild-Card Series as Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández each homered twice and Blake Snell fired seven dominant innings.
Why this Dodgers vs Reds Wild-Card Game mattered
This compact, high-stakes series kicks off MLB’s best-of-three Wild-Card round — every game is magnified and mistakes are costly. The Dodgers, heavy favorites and defending National League champions, used Game 1 to put serious pressure on the Reds: win one more and Los Angeles advances to the NL Division Series. For Cincinnati, the one-game swing of momentum in a short series can flip an entire postseason. The match also mattered for narrative reasons: Ohtani’s arrival in Los Angeles added star power and late-season intrigue; the Dodgers’ ability to produce power in bunches (five homers in Game 1) could be a deciding factor in October.
Reds – Dodgers Quick scoreboard
- Final: Los Angeles Dodgers 10, Cincinnati Reds 5.
- Dodgers power: Shohei Ohtani — 2 HRs (including a 454-ft blast, the longest postseason HR in Dodgers history) and Teoscar Hernández — 2 HRs; Tommy Edman also homered. Five Dodgers homers tied a franchise postseason record.
- Pitching star: Blake Snell — 7.0 IP, 9 K, 2 ER (win).
- Reds late rally: Cincinnati scored five runs in the final three innings, led in part by Elly De La Cruz’s two RBIs, but the comeback fell short.
Those facts are the first things fans search for — final score, big homers, and the starter lines.
Reds vs Dodgers: inning by inning — how the Dodgers imposed their will
Early fireworks: Ohtani sets the tone
The Dodgers wasted no time. Shohei Ohtani—batting leadoff in October for the Dodgers—punched a 117.7-mph leadoff homer to right in the 1st inning, a rocket that signaled the long ball would be the story of the night. That immediate pop forced Cincinnati to play catch-up in a short series where first impressions are decisive.
Third inning: Teoscar erupts, Dodgers blow the game open
The third inning turned into the watershed. Teoscar Hernández crushed a three-run homer on a hanging slider, and Tommy Edman followed with a solo shot that extended the lead. By the end of the third the Dodgers had built a massive early advantage — the kind of multi-run lead that opens up managerial choices on both benches, especially in a best-of-three format.
Middle innings: Snell controls; Dodgers tack on
Blake Snell settled into the zone, mixing his stuff and missing bats. He finished seven innings with nine strikeouts and allowed just two runs — a commanding outing that gave the Dodgers’ relievers room to protect the lead. Meanwhile, Ohtani added a second homer in the sixth (a 454-ft missile) to push the score even further in Los Angeles’ favor. Snell’s dominance bought the Dodgers the margin they needed when the Reds rallied late.
Cincinnati mounted a late push — five runs over the final three innings — and the comeback fever reached a point where the tying run stood on deck. Elly De La Cruz contributed two RBIs and the Reds’ bats finally found holes. Still, the damage from the early Dodger barrage (and the five homers) proved too big to overcome in Game 1. The bullpen surrendered late runs but held enough to close out a decisive 10–5 win. (Red Reporter)
Player spotlights — the load-bearing performances
Shohei Ohtani — October opener fireworks
Ohtani’s two-homer night provided both a leadoff thunderclap and a later dagger. His first blast measured 117.7 mph off the bat; his second traveled an eye-popping 454 feet, recorded by Statcast as the longest Dodgers postseason homer. In a short series, a two-homers and the intimidation factor Ohtani brings to the lineup matter greatly for both the present game and the opponent’s approach for the remainder of the series.
Teoscar Hernández — the power pair partner
Teoscar Hernández matched Ohtani with two home runs of his own and four RBIs, turning a hanging pitch into a three-run payload that swung the game’s momentum irreversibly in the third inning. Hernández’s 3-for-5 night and clutch timing bolstered the Dodgers’ run total and tied a rare franchise postseason mark.
Blake Snell — the pitching backbone
Snell’s seven-inning, nine-strikeout performance anchored the Dodgers and absorbed much of the Reds’ best scoring attempts. In a short series every inning from your starter counts for double; Snell worked deep, limited walks and left the Dodgers in a position to add insurance runs late. His outing was the difference between a nervy save situation and a manageable bullpen finish.
Elly De La Cruz & Reds late push
The Reds weren’t without heroes — De La Cruz’s late pair of RBIs energized a Citi Field–sized comeback feel at Dodger Stadium, reminding everyone why Cincinnati’s young core can’t be underestimated. Their late scoring created tense moments, including a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, but ultimately the early Dodger power ended up decisive.
Tactical analysis — how Los Angeles won and Cincinnati lost
Dodgers — volume of damage & starter length
Los Angeles combined efficient starting pitching with immediate offensive aggression. Two multi-homer games from top bats mean not only runs but a psychological advantage: pitchers start nibbling at the edges and managers have to adjust aggressively in a short series. Snell’s length allowed the bullpen to operate under less stress until a late jam; the offense’s five homers erased any small opportunities Cincinnati generated early. The Dodgers’ lineup depth — Ohtani, Hernández, Edman, Freeman and co. — means pitching plans are constantly under attack.
Reds — early mistakes and the cost of burying a starter
Cincinnati’s decision to start Hunter Greene — an ace they wanted on the hill — backfired as Greene’s early struggles (walks and damage allowed) opened the door. In a best-of-three, an early poor outing is catastrophic; you can’t fall behind multiple runs and expect to recover against a team with this level of power in one game. Defensive miscues and the timing of Greene’s exit amplified the issue. The Reds’ late rally demonstrated heart, but early self-inflicted wounds and a five-homer deficit were too large to erase.
Advanced metrics & key numbers to watch
- Home runs: Dodgers — 5 (Ohtani 2, Hernández 2, Edman 1) — tied with franchise postseason record for homers in a playoff game. Big homers (expected-distance & exit-velocity) changed the game’s win probability early.
- Snell strikeouts: 9 K in 7 innings — limiting the Reds to 4 hits while striking out nine suppressed the Reds’ run expectancy across innings.
- Ohtani Statcast bombs: 117.7 mph off the bat for the leadoff homer; 454 ft for the second — the longest Dodgers postseason homer (per Statcast). Those metrics show both exit velocity and distance matter in October.
Injury & roster notes
Early coverage didn’t highlight any major injury ejections after Game 1; Tommy Edman and Kike Hernandez played through minor soreness per media notes and the Dodgers planned to manage workloads before Game 2. The Reds will evaluate Hunter Greene and the bullpen usage after his abbreviated start. Check official team injury bulletins for updates ahead of Game 2. (True Blue LA)
What this Game 1 result means — immediate implications
For the Dodgers
- One win away: The Dodgers take a 1–0 lead in a best-of-three and will host Game 2 with the chance to clinch. Their lineup is in a power groove, and Snell gave a length that makes bullpen burnout less likely. Momentum and home-field in a two-game swing are massive advantages.
For the Reds
- Must-win Game 2: Cincinnati is facing elimination and must respond quickly or be ousted. Managerial decisions become urgent: which starter to deploy, how to protect Greene’s health, and whether to push bullpen arms into atypical roles. The late rally gives belief, but the early damage is the headline.
[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]
Where to watch Game 2 / how to follow the series
- TV / streaming: Game 2 of the Reds vs Dodgers Wild-Card Series is scheduled for tonight (check local listings) on ESPN in the U.S.; MLB.TV carries authenticated streams internationally. Game 2 first pitch expected at 9:08 p.m. ET / 6:08 p.m. PT at Dodger Stadium.
Fantasy & betting takeaways
- Fantasy: For DFS and daily managers, Ohtani and Hernández delivered outsize value in Game 1. For the rest of the series, Ohtani’s multi-positional star power makes him an automatic start in formats that include postseason DFS. (CBSSports.com)
- Betting: The Dodgers’ heavy power night will move betting lines for Game 2 — sportsbooks will price Dodgers as favorites at home with a playoff-tested Snell start likely to shorten spreads. Reds moneyline bettors will watch for pitching adjustments and any rotation shakeups. (Los Angeles Times)
Fan reaction & social media pulse
Social feeds blew up with Ohtani highlights (both homers), Teoscar’s third-inning three-run blast and Snell’s pitching montage. Los Angeles fans celebrated loudly; Reds fans rallied behind the late comeback but lamented early errors. MLB highlight reels and Twitter/X trending clips posted the Statcast shots and the long Ohtani blast within minutes of final. (YouTube)
FINAL: #Dodgers 10, Reds 5 pic.twitter.com/Wwdey4Lzpn
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 1, 2025
Quotes & postgame soundbites
- Blake Snell (Dodgers): Praised the lineup’s early support and emphasized staying attack-minded in October. (See Dodgers/MLB postgame). (ESPN.com)
- Shohei Ohtani: Noted the thrill of hitting in the postseason and the importance of setting the tone early as a leadoff batter. (See MLB.com highlights). (MLB.com)
- Reds manager: Focused on the team’s character after the late rally and the urgency of Game 2. (See Cincinnati postgame notes). (Red Reporter)
Include full quotes from team recaps and pressers when publishing for accuracy.
FAQs readers search for (short answers)
Q: What was the final Reds vs Dodgers score?
A: Dodgers 10, Reds 5. (ESPN.com)
Q: Who homered for the Dodgers?
A: Shohei Ohtani (2), Teoscar Hernández (2) and Tommy Edman (1). (Reuters)
Q: Who pitched well for the Dodgers?
A: Blake Snell — 7.0 IP, 9 K, 2 ER (win). (ESPN.com)
Q: How many games are in the Wild-Card Series?
A: The Wild-Card Series is best-of-three — the first team to two wins advances. Game 3 is only played if necessary. (CBSSports.com)
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