PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — Teoscar Hernández launched a three-run homer in the seventh inning that bailed out a struggling Shohei Ohtani and propelled the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of their National League Division Series on Saturday night.

A sellout crowd of 45,777 at Citizens Bank Park watched the reigning World Series champions overcome an early deficit and a rare poor performance from Ohtani at the plate to seize the opening game of the best-of-five series.

Ohtani, the Dodgers’ two-way star, endured a tough night as a hitter, striking out in all four of his at-bats. His final strikeout came in the seventh against reliever Matt Strahm with no outs and two runners on base. The failure set the stage for Hernández, who promptly erased the disappointment by driving a Strahm offering to right-center field for a go-ahead home run.

The blast turned a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 lead and ultimately secured the win for the Dodgers, who now hold a 1-0 series lead.

Philadelphia struck first, capitalizing on Ohtani’s only shaky inning on the mound. In the second, Alec Bohm walked and Brandon Marsh singled before J.T. Realmuto cleared the bases with a triple to center field. Realmuto then scored on a sacrifice fly by Harrison Bader, giving the Phillies an early 3-0 advantage.

That was all the offense the Phillies could muster against Ohtani and the Dodgers’ bullpen. Ohtani settled in after the second, finishing his night with six innings pitched, allowing three runs on three hits while striking out nine. He earned the win, improving his record to 2-1.

The Dodgers began their comeback in the sixth inning against Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez. After two quick outs, Freddie Freeman walked and Tommy Edman singled. Enrique Hernández then delivered a two-run double to left field, cutting the Phillies’ lead to 3-2 and chasing Sánchez from the game.

Sánchez was sharp for much of the night, charged with two runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings while striking out eight.

The game turned decisively in the seventh. Against the Philadelphia bullpen, Andy Pages led off with a single and Will Smith was hit by a pitch. After Ohtani’s strikeout and a popout from Mookie Betts, Hernández connected for his game-winning homer off Strahm, who was charged with the loss, falling to 2-1.

The Dodgers’ bullpen combination of Tyler Glasnow, Alex Vesia and Roki Sasaki shut the door over the final three innings. Sasaki worked a scoreless ninth, stranding the tying run on third base to record his first save of the season.

The Dodgers finished with six hits to the Phillies’ five. The teams will resume the series Monday in Philadelphia for Game 2.