Shohei Ohtani didn't need to sprint to second base, but Roberts doesn't hold it against him.

The Dodgers had a baserunning blunder that erased what could have been a game-tying hit by Shohei Ohtani. After the game, manager Dave Roberts chose not to dwell on it, and the Phillies committed a fatal baserunning mistake late in the game, giving the Dodgers a narrow 2-1 win.

In the top of the third inning with two outs, Eliezer Alfonzo was on second base, and the Dodgers trailed 1-0. Shohei Ohtani hit a single to center field, then rounded first and dashed toward second. Alfonzo, after rounding third, jogged slowly toward home plate while glancing back toward second. Realizing that Ohtani might be slower than the relay throw, he suddenly took big strides to step on the plate.

The umpire initially ruled Ohtani safe at second, and Alfonzo scored the tying run. But after a challenge by the Phillies, the call was overturned: Ohtani was tagged out before reaching second, and that out occurred before Alfonzo touched home plate, wiping out the tying run.

Discussing the play after the game, Roberts said Ohtani "didn't need to go to second, but it was a close call, and if Alfonzo had sprinted from the start, it would have been a safe run." He also didn't fault his players: "But Alfonzo caught well today and played a great major league game."

The Dodgers then took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning on a two-run homer by Max Muncy. In the bottom of the ninth with one out and runners on second and third, Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto made a baserunning error. After safely reaching third, he unexpectedly turned back and ran toward second, resulting in a double play that ended the game.

"That was a crucial play," Roberts said, praising his players for executing the details on defense. Although catcher Dalton Rushing had some flaws in handling the rundown, Realmuto's mistake allowed them to narrowly secure the victory.