The Los Angeles Dodgers erased a three run deficit on the way to a 5-3 road win over the Philadelphia
The Los Angeles Dodgers erased a three run deficit on the way to a 5-3 road win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of their National League Division Series matchup on Saturday, Oct. 4. Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez pitched a masterful game for the first 5.2 innings but ran into trouble in the sixth, allowing a pair of runs to cross.
The Dodgers raced ahead against Philadelphia’s bullpen the following frame on a three-run home run from Teoscar Hernández, and the Phillies never managed to mount a comeback of their own. Here are the winners and losers from Game 1.
Winner: Cristopher Sanchez
Even though the Dodgers got to him late in his day, Cristopher Sanchez deserves praise for the first 5.1 innings of his day. The 28-year-old left-hander struck out eight batters in that time, putting the Dodgers away using his sinker and changeup with ruthless efficiency. He even managed to freeze Shohei Ohtani looking with a sinker on two separate occasions.
Sanchez began to labor after the second out of the sixth inning, walking Freddie Freeman before Tommy Edman singled and Enrique Hernández doubled to plate two runs, chasing Sanchez from the game.
Philadelphia still held the lead at that point, however, and Sanchez limiting a dangerous Dodgers team to just two hits during his first two trips through the lineup is a big reason why.
Winner: Teoscar Hernández
Although he struck out three times in his first three at-bats, Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernández came all the way back in the seventh inning, clubbing a three-run home run 102.9 miles per hour the opposite way to give Los Angeles their first lead of the game. Hernández may have benefitted from Phillies left-hander Matt Strahm tipping his pitches — more on that later — but with two on and two outs, he chose the perfect time to hit his third home run of this postseason.
Loser: Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani put up a golden sombrero on Saturday night, going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts. Making the first postseason pitching appearance of his career, Ohtani allowed a three run rally in the second inning, giving the Phillies all the momentum in front of their home crowd.
Giving credit where it’s due, he managed to rebound from there, logging a quality start after blanking Philadelphia for the next four innings. The Dodgers’ late rally also helped to change the narrative, taking the magnifying glass off Ohtani’s struggles, but four strikeouts (including two looking) is a difficult final line to stomach regardless.
Loser: Matt Strahm
Phillies reliever Matt Strahm served up the pitch that won Los Angeles the game, a belt-high fastball down the middle with two on and two outs. Hernández didn’t have any trouble turning the 92 mile per hour offering around, pushing it to the opposite field for a three-run home run and a 5-3 lead.
Strahm appeared to have tipped his pitches during the at-bat, his open left-handed stance giving Andy Pages the ability to see right into his glove from his position on second base. Pages appeared to relay an arm signal to Hernández moments before the decisive pitch, adding another level of ignominy to Strahm’s performance: Hernández didn’t beat him, Strahm also beat himself.
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