Dodgers dominate Mets in NLCS Game 1, match MLB record with scoreless innings: Key Moments
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers, who had some concerns about an emotional letdown in the National League Championship Series, spent Sunday night ensuring they stay cautious throughout the tournament.
The Dodgers overwhelming beat the Mets, 9-0, in Game 1 of the NLCS, making New York the latest team to fall victim to the Dodgers’ impressive pitching lineup.
The only suspense for the enthusiastic crowd of 53,503 at Dodger Stadium was how long the Dodgers could keep their remarkable postseason scoreless streak intact.
Spoiler alert: It continues.
The Dodgers equaled the major league record with 33 consecutive scoreless innings, a feat previously achieved by the Baltimore Orioles during the 1966 World Series.
The Dodgers’ pitching is so dominant that they’re allowing a mere .127 batting average over these 33 innings. They even pitched a perfect inning – retiring 27 consecutive batters – leading back to Game 5 of the NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres, until Francisco Lindor’s walk in the fourth inning broke the streak.
Starting pitcher Jack Flaherty excelled, throwing seven shutout innings and giving up just two hits. He retired the first nine batters he faced and did not concede a hit until Jesse Winker’s single in the fifth inning. His teammates cheered when he wrapped up the seventh inning after throwing 98 pitches.
Flaherty’s outstanding performance allows manager Dave Roberts to opt for a bullpen game in Game 2 on Monday, keeping starter Walker Buehler ready for Game 3 and Yoshinobu Yamamoto for Game 4.
Given how thoroughly the Dodgers dominated the Mets on Sunday, concerns about needing a Game 5 seem unwarranted.
This may particularly weigh on the Mets’ minds regarding a potential start for Kodai Senga again. He struggled significantly in his most important major league appearance, lasting only 1 ⅓ innings.
Senga walked three batters consecutively in the first inning and allowed six of the ten batters he faced to reach base. He was quickly pulled after just 30 pitches, managing only nine strikes, with the Dodgers already ahead 3-0.
“He just didn’t have it together,” said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza.
In truth, none of the Mets players performed well throughout the match.
The Mets managed only three hits in total. Their highly regarded top batting order featuring Lindor, Mark Vientos, Brandon Nimmo, and Pete Alonso didn’t register any hits, striking out four times combined.
Adding to their struggles were a throwing error from first baseman Pete Alonso and a critical baserunning mistake by Winker, who squandered the Mets’ lone scoring opportunity in the fifth inning. After leading off with a single to right, Winker watched Iglesias single to center, creating a first-and-third situation without outs.
However, the situation unraveled quickly.
Winker, who got an excellent jump off first, paused as center fielder Enrique Hernandez acted like he would throw to third. This hesitation left Winker caught between bases, and he was tagged out when the play reverted to third.
Following that, the Mets failed to reach base again until the eighth inning after Flaherty had exited.
The outcome of Game 1 removed any anxiety the Dodgers might have had about wearing out after their NLDS victory.
“I think the clubhouse kind of found out about each other,” commented Dodgers infielder Max Muncy, who contributed a two-run single in the first inning that established the game’s momentum. “We all knew our strengths throughout the season. But when you face pressure like we did against the Padres, it truly shows what kind of team you are.”
“I think everyone really liked what they witnessed. It’s clear there’s no quit, no giving up, and no letting the intensity drop. That’s essential at this stage of the season.”
The Dodgers steadily wore down the Mets. Although they did not achieve any extra-base hits until Mookie Betts’ three-run double in the eighth, they maintained a relentless attack with nine singles, featuring two-hit performances from Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, and Enrique Hernandez.
“They are really good, it’s not a secret,” Mendoza conceded. “That’s an impressive team with many superstars. They have a deep and versatile lineup. They can perform well against both righties and lefties and they can attack in various ways.”
And, as Mendoza painfully noted on Sunday, their pitching staff is equally skilled and deep.
“They’re igniting us right now,” Muncy stated. “They’re showing passion, and we all want to support them. We want to secure the lead and let them do their thing out there.”
Here’s a recap of how Sunday’s game unfolded:
Mookie Betts clears the bases in the 8th
With a 6-0 advantage in the eighth inning, Mookie Betts hit a bases-loaded double that cleared the bases, bringing home all three runners and extending the Dodgers’ lead to 9-0.
Mets Silent Through Eight Innings
The Dodgers’ pitchers have not allowed any runs for 32 straight innings, with Daniel Hudson pitching the eighth inning after a remarkable seven-inning performance by Jack Flaherty. Hudson issued a walk and gave up a hit during the eighth, but he managed to leave two runners stranded by getting a fly out from Francisco Lindor and a strikeout from Mark Vientos.
Dodgers Extend Scoreless Streak to 30 Innings
Jack Flaherty delivered six shutout innings for the Dodgers, who have collectively kept opponents scoreless for 30 innings, starting from Game 3 of the NLDS against the Padres.
Los Angeles holds a 6-0 lead over the Mets as they head into the seventh inning.
Dodgers Add Three Runs: 6-0 After Four Innings
In the bottom of the fourth, Tommy Edman increased the score to 4-0 with an RBI single off David Peterson. Following that, Shohei Ohtani hit an RBI double to right-center, pushing the lead to 5-0. With two outs, Freddie Freeman added another run with a bloop single to left field, scoring Ohtani for the Dodgers’ sixth run.
Ohtani’s two hits that produced runs are encouraging, especially after he struggled at the plate, going 2-for-15 in the last four games of the NLDS against the Padres.
Mets’ Hitless Struggles Through Four Innings
The Dodgers’ starting pitcher Jack Flaherty did not allow any batters to reach base in the first three innings. However, he issued two walks in the fourth, yet managed to strand both runners, as the Mets failed to capitalize on the scoring chance.
Left-handed pitcher David Peterson came in to record the final out of the third inning and resumed pitching in the fourth for the Mets.
Ohtani’s RBI Single Makes It 3-0
After Gavin Lux walked and Tommy Edman advanced him with a sacrifice bunt, Shohei Ohtani came through with an RBI single, bringing the Dodgers’ lead to 3-0.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza decided to take out Kodai Senga after that play, bringing in Reed Garrett from the bullpen. Garrett got Mookie Betts out and then Ohtani was caught trying to steal second to finish the inning.
Dodgers Start Strong with 2-0 Lead in the First Inning
Mets starter Kodai Senga got off to a rough start by walking three batters in a row after getting the first out by retiring Shohei Ohtani. Only three of his first 16 pitches found the strike zone.
Senga managed to get Will Smith to fly out to center, but it wasn’t deep enough to score Mookie Betts. Max Muncy then capitalized with a two-run single to center, bringing in two runs with two outs. After a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, Senga struck out Enrique Hernández to limit the damage.
NLCS Game 1 Kicks Off in Los Angeles
Docged starter Jack Flaherty successfully retired the Mets in order at the start of the 2024 National League Championship Series, getting a groundout from Francisco Lindor, a strikeout from Mark Vientos, and a lineout from Brandon Nimmo.
The Dodgers’ pitching staff has now gone 25 innings without conceding a run.
Flaherty, who was acquired from the Tigers at the trade deadline, compiled a 6-2 record with a 3.58 ERA during 10 regular season starts for the Dodgers.
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Dodgers NLCS Roster Announced
LOS ANGELES — Relief pitcher Alex Vesia and shortstop Miguel Rojas were excluded from the NLCS roster on Sunday.
Vesia was unable to participate due to an injury to his right intercostal muscle, but Dodgers president Andrew Friedman stated that they are “hopeful” for Vesia’s return in the World Series if the team progresses that far.
Brent Honeywell was placed on the NLCS roster instead of Vesia. Honeywell had been on the injured list since late September after injuring his fingernail on his right hand’s middle finger.
Rojas is out with a torn adductor muscle that kept him from playing in the last two games of the NLDS. Kevin Kiermaier was brought onto the roster to enhance outfield depth, and Tommy Edman is set to take Rojas’ position at shortstop.
– James H. Williams
Mets NLCS Roster: Jeff McNeil Returns, Ottavino Excluded
LOS ANGELES — The New York Mets are fully prepared for the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers.
The Mets released their NLCS roster, featuring second baseman Jeff McNeil as a significant addition following a prolonged absence of over a month due to a fractured wrist. To accommodate McNeil, the Mets excluded right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino from the best-of-seven series against the Dodgers.
McNeil’s last game was on Sept. 6, when he had to leave due to being hit on the right arm in a game against the Reds. Before his injury, McNeil was seeing great success in the second half of the season, hitting .289 with a .923 OPS, seven home runs, 12 doubles, 20 RBIs, and 22 runs in 41 games post-All-Star break.
– Andrew Tredinnick, NorthJersey.com
Mets Starting Lineup for Game 1
- Francisco Lindor (S) SS
- Mark Vientos (R) 3B
- Brandon Nimmo (L) LF
- Pete Alonso (R) 1B
- Starling Marte (R) RF
- Jesse Winker (L) DH
- Jose Iglesias (R) 2B
- Tyrone Taylor (R) CF
- Francisco Alvarez (R) C
Dodgers Starting Lineup
- Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
- Mookie Betts (R) RF
- Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
- Teoscar Hernández (R) LF
- Will Smith (R) C
- Max Muncy (L) 3B
- Enrique Hernández (R) CF
- Gavin Lux (L) 2B
- Tommy Edman (S) SS
