Shohei Ohtani and his Japanese ally made Major League Baseball history specifically in Game 1 of the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies, which the Blue Jays won five runs to three on the night of Saturday, October 4, 2025.
The Japanese two-way phenomenon opened and won the game, while his compatriot closed the game and saved it.
Shohei Ohtani and his Japanese ally make MLB history
According to MLB, Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki made postseason history in their Game 1 NLDS win over the Philadelphia Phillies, becoming the first Japan-born duo to earn a win and a save in the same playoff game
Shohei Ohtani did not disappoint in his first career postseason start against the Phillies, pitching six innings and striking out nine batters on his way to victory. He allowed three runs, all in the second inning, on three hits, and kept his team in the game after they fell behind
After heading to the dugout in the sixth inning, Teoscar Hernandez hit a three-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to give the Dodgers a 5-3 lead. They officially relieved Shohei Ohtani in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Dodgers narrowly escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the eighth inning, and called on Roki Sasaki in the ninth for the second game in a row. The 23-year-old made a statement in the final inning, recording three outs without major incident to give the Dodgers a much-needed victory in Game 1.
Six innings equals Ohtani’s season high, which he had previously reached in his last start of the season against the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 23. His nine strikeouts also equaled a season high, which he set against the Reds on August 27. Sasaki returned from injury on September 24, and assumed a new role in the bullpen upon his return.
The Dodgers gave him two opportunities to prove himself at the end of the regular season, and he responded with two scoreless innings and four strikeouts. The Dodgers put him in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against the Reds, and he was just as impressive. He struck out two batters in a perfect inning to advance the Dodgers to the NLDS.
Game two
Los Angeles has a big advantage over the Phillies in the NLDS having won Game 1 on the road, and will look to keep that momentum going in Game 2 of the series at Citizens Bank Park. Blake Snell will make his second start of this postseason as the Dodgers look to take a 2-0 series lead and return to Dodger Stadium.
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