The Los Angeles Dodgers rang the opening bell of the 2025 MLB postseason, sweeping the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Wild Card Series with back-to-back dominant wins. By clinching the NLDS berth first, the Dodgers reaffirmed their powerhouse status and sent a clear message: they’re chasing nothing less than a World Series crown this fall.
Game 2 Hero: Yoshinobu Yamamoto and His Big-Game Instincts
The undeniable star of Game 2 was starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Japanese ace delivered 6 2/3 innings with 9 strikeouts, allowing just 2 unearned runs, showcasing the composure and resilience of a true postseason performer.
Turning Early Trouble Into Redemption
The game began shakily: an error by Teoscar Hernández in the first inning opened the door for two runs. But since they were unearned, Yamamoto’s sharp pitching remained untarnished. More importantly, he regrouped quickly, proving his ability to shake off adversity on the biggest stage.
Escaping the Ultimate Jam
His defining moment came in the 6th inning. With no outs and the bases loaded, Yamamoto struck out two batters and escaped without surrendering a run. In a situation where one mistake could have spelled disaster, he showed nerves of steel—exactly what you expect from a big-game pitcher.
Dodgers’ Bats On Fire: Betts, Ohtani, and Hernández’s Redemption
The Dodgers’ offense exploded for 13 hits, fueled by their stars at the top of the order.
Mookie Betts set the tone, going 4-for-5 with three doubles and three RBIs. His relentless presence on base consistently created scoring opportunities.
Shohei Ohtani may not have delivered fireworks like in Game 1, but his 1-for-4 with an RBI and a walk highlighted his steady reliability as the lineup’s engine.
Teoscar Hernández, who committed the costly error early on, redeemed himself with two RBIs at the plate. From goat to hero, Hernández embodied the drama and redemption arc that only October baseball can provide.
Elsewhere in the Wild Card: Series Pushed to Deciders
While the Dodgers advanced smoothly, the other three Wild Card matchups tightened into do-or-die Game 3s:
Yankees bounced back from a historic Game 1 collapse (bases loaded, no outs in the 9th—yet no runs scored) with a gutsy 4-3 win. Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s daring dash home in the 8th sealed redemption in the Bronx.
Guardians erupted for a 5-run 8th inning, fueled by a solo shot from Brayan Rocchio and a 3-run homer from Bo Naylor, evening the series against Detroit.
Padres leaned on dominant pitching to shut out the Cubs 3-0, leveling their NL showdown.
Now, all three remaining series head into decisive Game 3s—a perfect recipe for postseason drama.
Up Next: Dodgers vs. Phillies in the NLDS
The Dodgers will now square off against the second-seeded Philadelphia Phillies in a best-of-five NLDS. With the Phillies boasting a fearsome rotation and plenty of home-run power, the clash promises fireworks. But if Yamamoto’s poise, Betts’ consistency, and the star power of Ohtani and Hernández continue to shine, Dodger fans might just start chanting: “OUDA—Only the Dodgers are destined to win it all.”