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In Game 4 of the 2025 National League Division Series on October 9, Cristopher Sánchez delivered a spirited and efficient start for the Philadelphia Phillies against the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitching 6.5 innings, allowing just one earned run on five hits, one walk, and five strikeouts on 80 pitches.
This outing held the Dodgers’ potent lineup at bay for six scoreless innings, matching Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow pitch for pitch in a classic pitching duel.
Sánchez’s control was precise: the quality of his pitches ranked among the top 5% of MLB starters for the game, with excellent positioning and horizontal break that induced ground balls and weak contact rather than relying on missed swings (evident in his season-low five strikeouts for a multi-inning postseason start).
Key moments included navigating early threats, such as stranding runners in the sixth inning on a Tommy Edman grounder that Sánchez fielded and threw to first for the out. He exited in the seventh inning after walking Alex Call and allowing a single, leaving runners on first and second with one out.
The Phillies bullpen faltered then: closer Jhoan Durán got one out but intentionally walked Shohei Ohtani to load the bases, and Mookie Betts drew a walk to tie the game at 1-1.
Impact on the Game
Sánchez’s start was a stabilizing factor in an elimination game, preventing the Dodgers from getting unstuck early and buying time for the Phillies’ offense, which scored a lone run in the top of the seventh off Dodgers reliever Emmet Sheehan (on a sacrifice fly).
His low walk rate (just one) and ability to escape jams limited hard contact from stars like Ohtani (whom he struck out three times in Game 1) and Betts, forcing the Dodgers to a season-high 1-for-16 against him over five innings.
However, the modest strikeout total highlighted the Dodgers’ disciplined approach at the plate, putting balls in play (five hits against Sánchez) rather than chasing pitches, which tested their defense and led to double plays.
This performance extended the game into extra innings, turning it into a thrilling Dodgers game with a 2-1 score in the 11th inning thanks to a throwing error by Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering (a pitch over J.T. Realmuto’s head after a ground ball by Andy Pages).
Without Sánchez, the Phillies probably collapsed sooner; instead, his work kept their elimination hopes alive until the bullpen and offense couldn’t deliver the final blow.
The immediate consequences were devastating, as the Phillies’ 2-1 loss clinched the series for the Dodgers 3-1, ending Philadelphia’s season on the cusp of the NL Championship Series despite entering the playoffs as the NL’s number one seed with World Series aspirations.
Sánchez didn’t influence the decision, but his solid offensive line (one earned run) underscored the resilience of the Phillies’ pitching—three pitchers (Sánchez and key relievers) limited the Dodgers to two runs total—but they couldn’t overcome the offensive impotence. Philadelphia’s power hitters (Harper, Schwarber, Turner) combined to go just 4-for-28 in the game, continuing a postseason trend of failure in low-scoring games.
Manager Rob Thomson’s decisions, including the bullpen’s sequencing after Sánchez, drew attention for the error-plagued tying run in the seventh and eleventh innings.
For Sánchez, this caps an explosive 2025 season (13-5, 2.50 ERA) and a solid postseason run (including eight strikeouts in Game 1), confirming his role as a reliable No. 3 starter. However, the loss intensifies the Phillies’ offseason priorities of bolstering their playoff offense and bullpen depth to avoid another early exit.
Sánchez’s growth as a key asset in the postseason: At 28, he proved unflappable in high-risk plays, with his tendency to hit ground balls (with a top-three horizontal break percentage) shining against high-contact lineups like the Dodgers.
His five strikeouts were below expectations (he’d topped 5.5 in five consecutive regular-season starts), but his efficiency outweighed his strikeouts, making him a nightmare for teams that don’t hit aggressively.
The Phillies’ playoff Achilles’ heel was exposed. Despite Sánchez and Glasnow combining for 11 scoreless innings, Philadelphia’s weak scoring (one run in a must-win) reiterates their chronic October offensive droughts.
The team went 1-for-9 with RISP in Game 4, falling to a .198 team batting average in the series, a disastrous statistic for a lineup built around Harper and Schwarber.
The Dodgers’ depth shines as Los Angeles advances to the National League Championship Series, where their pitching staff (bolstered by Glasnow’s duel) neutralized Philadelphia’s stars.
This win confirms their dominance in the regular season, but Sánchez’s near-shutout serves as a model for future opponents, pressuring him with contact to expose the Phillies’ vulnerabilities in the late innings.
Overall, Sánchez’s performance was a moral victory in defeat—a testament to his poise—but it couldn’t hide the Phillies’ systemic problems, ending their 2025 campaign on a heartbreaking note.
