The bullpen nearly faltered again, but Reiwa's great ace Sasaki helped the Dodgers secure a narrow 1-run victory over the Phillies.

During the MLB National League Division Series, the Dodgers defeated the Phillies in Game 2 thanks to Blake Snell’s six innings of scoreless pitching and a crucial four-run outburst in the seventh. Although the Phillies mounted a two-run comeback in the bottom of the ninth, the Dodgers held firm and brought in Reiwa’s ace Roki Sasaki to close the game, ultimately winning 4-3 and taking a 2-0 series lead with a chance to clinch.

At the start, Shohei Ohtani struck out against Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo, followed by Mookie Betts reaching base with a hit. After a prolonged battle, Teoscar Hernández drew a walk, Freddie Freeman hit a fly ball caught for an out, and Tommy Edman grounded out, leaving runners on first and third stranded for the Dodgers.

In the first inning, Snell struck out Trea Turner and then got Kyle Schwarber to fly out. Despite walking Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm failed to continue the rally, grounding out to end the threat, keeping the score tied at 0-0.

In the second inning, Luzardo settled down and retired the side in order, with Snell responding similarly. In the bottom of the third, Brandon Marsh drew a walk, but Snell then struck out Otto Kemp and Turner and caught Marsh stealing to end the inning.

In the fourth inning, both starters kept suppressing the offense, turning it into a pitchers' duel. Snell showcased a high strikeout count, reaching seven by mid-game. Although he gave up the Phillies’ first hit in the fifth, he managed to escape the inning unscathed.

In the top of the sixth, the Dodgers sent Will Smith to pinch-hit but were unsuccessful. In the bottom half, Turner reached on a walk and stole second, Schwarber also walked, but Snell struck out Harper to resolve the bases-loaded threat.

In the seventh inning, Teoscar Hernández broke the Dodgers’ hitting slump with a single; Freddie Freeman followed with a hit, putting runners on second and third and forcing Luzardo out, replaced by Orion Kerkering. Tommy Edman struck out, Enrique Hernández bunted, and Teoscar Hernández scored the Dodgers’ first run by sprinting home.

The Dodgers then sent in Max Muncy as a pinch hitter, who drew a walk to load the bases with one out. After Andy Pages flew out, Will Smith hit a line drive with two RBIs on the first pitch, extending the lead to 3-0. The Phillies brought in Matt Strahm to pitch relief.

Shohei Ohtani followed with a powerful hit, pushing the Dodgers’ lead to four runs. In the bottom of the seventh, the Dodgers turned to the bullpen with Emmet Sheehan on the mound, who struck out J.T. Realmuto, then got Nick Castellanos to fly out to right field. Bryson Stott’s pinch-hit attempt failed, and the Dodgers maintained a 4-0 lead.

In the top of the eighth, Teoscar Hernández hit through the infield but was tagged out trying to advance to second; after a review, the call was upheld. Freddie Freeman and Tommy Edman were retired in order, ending the inning quickly. In the bottom half, after Marsh was out, Max Kepler pinch-hit a triple, allowing Trea Turner to score Philadelphia’s first run. Schwarber struck out and Harper flew out, leaving the Phillies trailing 1-4.

In the top of the ninth, the Phillies brought in closer Jhoan Duran, who struck out Enrique Hernández with a fastball. Muncy hit a long single to left field; Pages flew out on an infield popup, and Smith drew a walk. Ohtani came up for his fifth at-bat but struck out.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Phillies launched a rally with hits from Bohm, Realmuto, and Castellanos, including two extra-base hits, scoring two runs and narrowing the gap to 3-4. The Dodgers replaced Blake Treinen with Alex Vesia in relief. Bryson Stott attempted a bunt to advance runners but the Dodgers’ defense quickly recorded an out and held the runners. Harrison Bader pinch-hit for a hit, putting runners on first and second; Kepler grounded out to second but advanced runners to first and third.

The Dodgers then brought in Roki Sasaki to extinguish the threat. Sasaki induced Turner to ground out to end the game, securing the crucial second win amid intense pressure. The next game will return to the Dodgers’ home field in Los Angeles.