Oct 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernandez (37) celebrates after scoring on a three run home run with catcher Will Smith (16) and center fielder Andy Pages (44) in the seventh inning during game one of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Dodgers swung the balance of their National League Division Series opener in the seventh inning. Trailing 3-2 in a hostile Citizens Bank Park, Teoscar Hernandez stepped to the plate with runners on first and second and two outs.

He proceeded to blast a 1-0 Matt Strahm fastball over the right-center field fence. The Philadelphia Phillies never recovered and suddenly the NL East champions were down 1-0 to start their 2025 postseason.

But Hernandez may have known what was coming. Dodgers catcher Andy Pages was at second base with a clear view of Strahm's grip and how Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto set up over the plate. And on both Strahm pitches, he raised his right arm -- potentially in an innocent stretch, or potentially to let his teammate know what was coming.

Pages denied any wrongdoing -- though it's worth noting even a signal from second base wouldn't be expressly illegal. He told The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya he wasn't relaying signals back to Hernandez. Hernandez also denied any involvement, pointing out that, yep, Strahm's pitch was a misplaced fastball over the plate.

Is this a controversy? Probably not. Is it something Strahm needs to work on? Yes, along with his fastball placement. One bad pitch flipped homefield advantage in a five-game series over to the most expensive roster in baseball. Pages may have been trying to help his teammate or it may have been an unrelated pair of arm raises. Either way, the culprit here was meatball over the plate at one of the worst possible times for it.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Andy Pages denied sign stealing before pivotal Dodgers NLDS HR

Reporting by Christian D'Andrea, For The Win / For The Win

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