Blake Snell and the Dodgers beat the Reds 10-4 in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series

Los Angeles Dodgers #7 Blake Snell (LHP) had nine strikeouts against the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series at Dodgers Stadium. Photo by Mark Hammond/BNS September 30, 2025.

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Dodgers, with Blake Snell (1-0) as their starting pitcher in the postseason, went 7.0 innings, allowed 4 hits, 2 runs, and nine strikeouts, and run support from his teammates, won Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series by beating the Cincinnati Reds 10-4 at Dodger Stadium.

“Blake was fantastic tonight,” said Dodger manager Dave Roberts. “You could see he was in complete control. The fastball was great. The change up was plus. Kind of mixing and matching and really was in control the entire game.”

The Reds' starting pitcher, Hunter Green (0-1), didn’t last long, pitching 3.0 innings, gave up 6 hits, five runs, three home runs, and had four strikeouts.

Snell threw only seven pitches to retire the first three batters for the Cincinnati Reds in the top of the first inning.

Los Angeles Dodgers #17 Shohei Ohtani (DH) lead-off home run in the bottom of the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series. Photo by Mark Hammond/BNS September 30, 2025.

Shohei Ohtani got the Dodgers on the board first, 1-0, with a lead-off home run over the right field wall in the bottom of the first inning against the Reds' starting pitcher Hunter Green.

"His focus gets keener and the at-bat quality is better," manager Dave Roberts said. "That's the reason why he signed to be with this ball club, this organization, to play in games like this to showcase his otherworldly talent."

"It was a really hard pitch to hit, but I felt like I reacted pretty well," Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. "I was happy I was able to help the team score early."

Los Angeles Dodgers #27 Teoscar Hernandez (RF) three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series. Photo by Mark Hammond/BNS September 30, 2025.

The Dodgers would lead 4-0 in the bottom of the third inning when Teoscar Hernandez blasted a three-run home run over the left field wall.

Tommy Edman would push Los Angeles’ lead to 5-0 with a solo home run over right field.

Teoscar Hernandez would strike again in the bottom of the fifth inning with his second home run over the left field wall to give the Dodgers a 6-0 lead.

Los Angeles Dodgers #17 Shohei Ohtani (DH), his second home run was a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds. Photo by Mark Hammond/BNS September 30, 2025.

Ohtani, with his second home, gave the Dodgers an 8-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with a two-run home run over the right-center field wall.

Cincinnati trailed 8-1 in the top of the seventh inning after Elly De La Cruz grounds into a forced out to Mookie Betts at shortstop to second baseman Miguel Rojas, and Austin Hays scores.

Tyler Stephenson, with a sharp line drive double to left field, allowed Cruz to come home to make the score 8-2.

The Dodgers led 9-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning with a single by Alex Call into right field, and Rojas scored.

Los Angeles went up 10-2 after a throwing error by the Reds' Miguel Andujar on the previous play that sent Call to third base, and Ben Rortvedt brought him home with a single to left field.

The Reds would score two more runs in the top of the eighth inning to lose 10-4 with the bases loaded, and Sal Stewart walked, and Matt McLain scored, and Spencer Steer singled to center field, and Martel scored.