Blake Snell's 6‑scoreless innings lift Dodgers to 2‑0 NLDS lead
Oct, 25 2025
When Blake Snell, the 32‑year‑old left‑hander for the Los Angeles Dodgers took the mound at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night, October 6, 2025, he delivered a six‑inning, one‑hit masterpiece that left the Philadelphia Phillies reeling and secured a 4‑3 win in Game 2 of the National League Division Series.
That win wasn’t just another notch on the Dodgers’ belt; it pushed them to a 2‑0 series lead and brought them one step closer to a 17th NL Championship Series appearance. The Dodgers, defending World Series champions, had already shown they could lean on veteran arms – but Snell’s outing was something else. The little‑league‑boy‑from‑Canton‑Florida vibe was gone; here was a two‑time Cy Young winner blowing the competition out of the water.
Context: Dodgers’ postseason trajectory
Los Angeles entered the NLDS riding a wave that began with an emphatic wild‑card win over the Cincinnati Reds. In that game, Snell tossed seven innings of two‑run ball, a performance that set the tone for his “big‑game” identity. The club’s front office, headed by President Andrew Friedman, has built a rotation that blends experience (Snell, Walker Buehler) with youthful fire (Yamamoto). That mix helped the Dodgers dominate the regular season and now, the postseason.
Philadelphia, on the other hand, had been battling injuries all summer. Their ace, Aaron Nola, was nursing a sore shoulder, and their offense was sputtering, posting a .230 team batting average in the last ten games. The series had already seen a tight Game 1, with the Dodgers edging the Phillies 2‑1 on a late‑inning rally.
Snell’s dominant outing
Snell’s line reads like a textbook example of postseason pitching: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 9 K, 2 BB. He kept the Phillies to a 1‑for‑18 batting average through six frames – a stat that would make any scout grin. The only hit came in the fourth inning, a soft single up the middle that was promptly erased by a double‑play pivot from shortstop J.P. Crawford. The rest of the night, Snell was a fire‑hose, firing fastballs in the mid‑90s and a slider that snapped like a fresh-cut biscuit.
What’s more, his poise was evident in the way he handled the crowd’s chatter. After a close call in the fifth, he simply adjusted his cap, looked toward the dugout, and let the next pitch do the talking. As Dodgers manager Dave Roberts later said, “Everything we could have asked for. Six strong innings tonight. He had everything working.”
Defensive heroics and bullpen drama
The defense behind Snell was anything but static. In the seventh, with the Dodgers up 3‑2, third‑baseman Max Muncy pulled off what teammates later called a “tone‑shifting wheel play.” He fielded a line drive in the gap, spun, and threw home to Mookie Betts, who was already covering the plate. The throw was laser‑accurate; the runner was tagged out, and the crowd gasped.
Later, with two outs in the ninth, the Phillies threatened to tie. Nick Castellanos smashed a two‑run double off reliever Blake Treinen, nudging the score to 4‑3. The Dodgers called on left‑hander Alex Vesia to face shortstop Bryson Stott, who tried to bunt the ball home. Muncy again sprinted, wheeled, and fired to Betts, who sprinted and made the tag on Castellanos at the plate. “He stayed cool, calm and collected,” Muncy later reflected. “That’s what you want in those moments.”
First‑base veteran Freddie Freeman added the final layer of security with a “miraculous scoop” on a low line drive in the bottom of the sixth, securing the last out of Snell’s start. “I was really trying to do anything I could to catch it,” Freeman said. “Those in‑between balls are the hardest, but it stayed in my glove.”
Reactions from players and coaches
After the game, the clubhouse buzzed. Muncy, with his characteristic deadpan humor, joked that the “wheel play” might become a new Dodgers trademark. Betts, who has been a vocal leader all season, simply said, “We trust the guys on the mound, and we trust each other on defense. Tonight was a team effort.”
Roberts, ever the pragmatic chief, highlighted the importance of staying sharp. “We can’t get comfortable. The Phillies are going to adjust, and we have to be ready for whatever they throw at us,” he warned. Meanwhile, Phillies manager Rob Thomson admitted that “our offense didn’t execute enough, but we’ll regroup.”
Implications for the series and World Series outlook
With a 2‑0 lead, the Dodgers are now in a position where they can afford one misstep. Statistically, teams that win the first two games of a best‑of‑five advance about 78 % of the time. Snell’s performance also adds a layer of intrigue for the World Series. If Los Angeles reaches the Fall Classic, Snell could be slated to start Game 1 against the Toronto Blue Jays – a storyline that would pit a two‑time Cy Young winner against a powerhouse Toronto rotation.
The Phillies, meanwhile, are left scrambling. Their bullpen, already stretched thin after a taxing wild‑card round, will need to find a way to shut down the Dodgers’ offense that has averaged 5.2 runs per game this postseason. Nola’s upcoming start in Game 3 will be critical, and the Phillies will likely lean on the left‑hander Zack Wheeler as a possible reliever if the game gets tight.
Looking ahead: Game 3 preview
Game 3 shifts to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. The Dodgers have announced that Japanese right‑hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will take the ball. Yamamoto, who tossed a postseason‑high nine strikeouts in the wild‑card clincher, brings a fastball that can touch 99 mph and a devastating splitter. His matchup against Aaron Nola will be a classic left‑vs‑right duel, with the outcome likely hinging on run support from a Dodgers lineup that has been humming on the back end—Will Smith’s two‑run single in the seventh of Game 2 is still fresh in everyone’s mind.
For the Phillies, the focus will be on staying alive. If they can string together a three‑run rally early, they’ll force the Dodgers into a must‑win scenario that could expose any lingering bullpen fatigue. The series is far from over, but after Snell’s six‑scoreless‑inning masterpiece, the odds have certainly tilted in Los Angeles’ favor.
- Game: NLDS Game 2, Dodgers vs. Phillies
- Date: October 6, 2025
- Venue: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
- Snell’s line: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 9 K
- Series score: Dodgers lead 2‑0
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Snell’s performance affect the Dodgers’ chances in the World Series?
Snell’s six‑scoreless‑inning shutout not only puts Los Angeles up 2‑0 in the NLDS, it also gives the club a reliable ace heading into a potential World Series. If the Dodgers advance, Snell’s ability to dominate high‑pressure situations makes him a prime candidate to start Game 1 against the Toronto Blue Jays, giving the Dodgers a tactical edge.
What impact does the win have on the Phillies’ postseason outlook?
Falling behind 0‑2 forces Philadelphia into a win‑or‑go‑home scenario. The loss highlighted gaps in their offense—just a .056 collective batting average through six innings. To stay alive, the Phillies must spark a run‑heavy rally and rely on a tighter bullpen, especially from Aaron Nola in the upcoming Game 3 start.
Who are the key pitchers slated for Game 3?
Los Angeles will start Japanese phenom Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who struck out nine in the wild‑card clincher. Philadelphia counters with right‑hander Aaron Nola, the club’s staff ace.
How did the defensive plays influence the final score?
The Dodgers’ defense kept the game within reach. Muncy’s wheel play prevented a potential run‑scoring hit in the seventh, while Freeman’s late‑inning scoop sealed the final out of Snell’s start. Those moments preserved a one‑run margin that proved decisive.
When and where is Game 3 being played?
Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California.