Dodgers Hold Off Phillies; One Win Away From NLCS

The Los Angeles Dodgers hold off a late-inning rally from the Philadelphia Phillies to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the NLDS.

Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

October 6, 2025

Dodgers 4, Phillies 3

The Los Angeles Dodgers hold off the Philadelphia Phillies in a nail-biter to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the NLDS. They are now one win away from a return to the NLCS. Strong outings from both pitchers kept runs at a premium, with the Dodgers coming through late and holding on to their slim advantage.

Dodgers-Phillies Game Summary

Pitcher’s Duel

Blake Snell and Jesus Luzardo traded quality starts, both keeping hitters off balance. They were pitching ahead and moving locations effectively. Before eventually giving up runs in the seventh, Luzardo retired 17 consecutive Dodger batters. After a single and a double had runners at the corners, he withdrew from the game with 6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. Snell matched Luzardo’s intensity on the other side, withdrawing in the seventh with 6 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 9 K.

Dodgers 4-Run Seventh Inning

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After being stifled for most of the game, the Dodgers came alive and broke the game open in the seventh inning. They finally got to Luzardo with a single by Teoscar Hernandez and a successive double from Freddie Freeman.

Orion Kerkering then took the mound for Luzardo, and Kiké Hernandez again, in a clutch spot, delivered for the Dodgers. He hit a shallow grounder in the infield, which caused a close play at the plate in which Teoscar was called safe. The Dodgers plated three more runs with singles from Will Smith and Shohei Ohtani.

Bullpen Bends but Doesn’t Break In Final Frame

Though the Phillies gave it their best, the Dodgers’ bullpen managed to hold off the rally and secure the win. Max Kepler pinch-hit for Otto Kemp in the eighth and tripled to right field. He was then plated, representing the Phillies’ first run, by Trea Turner on a single.

In the bottom of the ninth, Blake Treinen took the mound for the Dodgers to try to get the save. Immediately, the Phillies were able to do damage to him. Alec Bohm got things started with a single, followed by a double from J.T. Realmuto. Nick Castellanos drove in both runners with a double and was called safe in a close play at second. With the score now 4-3 and a runner in scoring position, Dave Roberts went to lefty Alex Vesia to get the last three outs.

Bryson Stott hit into a fielder’s choice, and the Dodgers got Castellanos out at third. An injured Harrison Bader came in to pinch-hit and got a clutch single to advance the game-tying run to second. Weston Wilson came in to pinch-run for Bader and was thrown out at second when Kepler hit into a fielder’s choice.

With two outs and the game-tying run 90 feet from home plate, the Dodgers again called on Roki Sasaki to secure the win. He faced the batting champion, Trea Turner, and got him to ground out to second, allowing the Dodgers to hold off the Phillies to come one win away from advancing to the NLCS.

What Went Wrong for the Dodgers

Late-Inning Nerves

Though the Dodger bullpen was able to keep from imploding this time, the late-inning command issues almost turned a comfortable lead into a nightmare. Treinen struggled to locate his pitches, resulting in some hard-hit balls that brought the Phillies within striking distance. Shaky pitching from the bullpen caused Dave Roberts to burn through multiple relivers to secure the final outs. While the Dodgers were able to escape, their inability to close cleanly raises ongoing concerns about bullpen consistency in high-leverage situations.

What Went Right for the Dodgers

Clutch Hitting

The Dodgers’ late-game resilience led them to another victory. They capitalized on Luzardo’s first mistakes and scored crucial runs that changed the complexion of the game. The lineup’s ability to deliver in critical situations has been a key factor all year.

Bullpen Execution

Despite a ninth-inning scare, the Dodger bullpen was ultimately able to take care of business and hold on for the win. They got key outs and were able to preserve the lead. Vesia and Sasaki especially showed poise under pressure.

Rob Thomson Reflects on Tough Loss

“I’ll have probably a little meeting with them on Wednesday. But I love the fight in the eighth and ninth inning. They fought like hell, and hopefully that carries over into Wednesday. But this is a resilient group. Our backs are against the wall. We’ve just got to come out fighting, ” said Phillies manager Rob Thomson in a post-game interview.

Resilient as they are, the star-studded top of the lineup for the Phillies has still not produced as much as expected. The trio of Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, and Kyle Schwarber went 1-for-10 at the plate. When asked if their performance was holding the team back, Thomson stated, “Yeah, you like those guys to be swinging the bats, but I do like what we’re doing at the bottom part of the order. Snell was good again tonight.”

Looking Ahead

The Dodgers now hold a 2-0 lead in the NLDS and are one game away from punching their ticket to the NLCS. They will try to close it out on their home field on Wednesday, October 8. Ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.49 ERA) will take the mound against Aaron Nola (5-10, 6.01 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 6:08 pm PDT.