Dodgers steal game 1 at Citizens Bank Park, Phillies can't close home field

In a shock to many expecting the home-field boost to carry the top-seed Phillies, the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers took Game 1 of the NLDS on the road, leaving Citizens Bank Park stunned.

From the start, the tone was competitive. Philadelphia sent Cristopher Sánchez to the mound to set the stage, while Los Angeles countered with Shohei Ohtani.  The Phillies struck early, grabbing a lead and putting pressure on the Dodgers’ starters.  But L.A.’s bullpen and late-game execution were enough to erase the deficit and keep the poise of a champion.

The Dodgers, after sweeping the wild-card round, carried momentum into Philadelphia and showed why they remain dangerous in October.  Meanwhile, the Phillies — though loaded with expectations as the top seed — were unable to hold firm in key moments.

Now down 0–1 in the series, Philadelphia must regroup quickly. The margin is small in a best-of-five, but losing Game 1 at home stings. The defending champs have delivered a warning: this won’t be easy.