Dodgers one step away from World Series with dominant win over Mets: Game Highlights
NEW YORK — The fairytale ending seems out of reach.
It feels like the New York Mets’ amazing season might be coming to an abrupt conclusion, even though it’s not technically over.
On Thursday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers overwhelmed the Mets once again, winning 10-2 and taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series.
The Dodgers are now just one win away from the World Series and will await the victor of the New York Yankees-Cleveland Guardians American League Championship Series.
For the Mets, who narrowly made the playoff cut with a 67-40 record in the final stretch, a miracle is urgently needed.
“We’ve demonstrated throughout the year that this group is strong and determined,” said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. “They have that fighting spirit. They’re not going to throw in the towel and will keep competing.”
Despite their resilience, the Mets have not shown much evidence they can turn this series around.
The reality is that the Dodgers are simply too strong, composed, and skilled for the Mets to handle at this point.
Whether it’s Shohei Ohtani hitting a home run to kick off the game, breaking a streak of 22 at-bats without a hit, or Mookie Betts going 4-for-6 with a home run and four RBIs, the Dodgers’ offensive power is undeniable.
And if it’s not those two stars, it’s Max Muncy reaching base 12 times in a row, setting a postseason record.
Alongside this, the Dodgers’ offense drew 31 walks, the highest in the first four games of a postseason series, while their pitching staff excelled as well.
“What makes them a fantastic team offensively is their discipline at the plate,” Mendoza noted. “They really know how to manage the strike zone.”
Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out eight batters over 4 ⅓ innings, leaving with a 5-2 advantage, while the bullpen continued to assert control.
Since May, the Dodgers have faced the Mets seven times, winning six and outscoring them 58-12. At least for the Mets, they avoided being shut out for a third time in this series.
Earlier, the Mets were thought to have an edge with their momentum and starting pitchers. But the Dodgers have effectively taken control of the series from the onset.
Only one Mets starter has made it past five innings during this series.
This time, veteran Jose Quintana lasted just 3 ⅔ innings after allowing five runs.
Quintana had been one of the league’s leading pitchers in the past couple of months, boasting a superb 0.57 ERA over his last eight starts. He had only given up three runs in his last 47 ⅓ innings of regular-season and postseason games since August 20.
But on Thursday night?
The Dodgers swiftly scored five runs against him and seized a 5-2 lead with Betts’ two-run double in the fourth inning.
It has become that kind of night for the Mets.
In fact, it has transformed into that kind of series.
“It’s a challenge,” Mendoza emphasized. “That’s a very good team out there.”
The Dodgers are demonstrating their dominance in this NLCS.
Dodgers continue to score: 10-2 in the eighth
In the eighth inning, Tommy Edman hit a two-run double against Danny Young, making the score 9-2. Shortly thereafter, catcher Will Smith added an RBI single, bringing Edman home and pushing the lead to 10-2.
Dodgers fend off bases-loaded threat
Following the Dodgers’ five-run lead in the sixth inning, Evan Phillips struggled, allowing two singles and a walk to load the bases with nobody out. With the potential tying run on deck, Phillips struck out Jose Iglesias and forced Jeff McNeil to fly out for two critical outs. Blake Treinen then came in and got pinch-hitter Jesse Winker to fly out, ending the Mets’ opportunity to capitalize.
In Game 4, the Mets went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
Mookie Betts’ homer extends the lead: Dodgers 7, Mets 2
With the Dodgers leading 5-2 in the sixth inning, Mookie Betts launched a two-run homer off Phil Maton, likely sealing the game for Los Angeles.
Betts finished the game 3-for-4 with 4 RBIs and was just a triple shy of completing the cycle.
Mookie Betts doubles to make it 5-2
In the fourth inning, with one out and runners at first and second, Mookie Betts greeted reliever Jose Butto with a two-run double to left field.
Mets score one, Dodgers lead 3-2 after three
With the bases loaded and one out, Brandon Nimmo hit a potential double-play ball to second base, but the slow-footed Mets outfielder beat the throw to first base after a review, allowing the team to score its second run against Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
With the tying run on third, Yamamoto induced Starling Marte to ground into a force out at second, ending the inning.
Dodgers lead 3-1 in the third inning
With two outs and runners on first and second, Dodgers shortstop Tommy Edman hit an RBI double off Jose Quintana, putting the Dodgers ahead.
The Dodgers took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning when Enrique Hernandez hit an RBI single, increasing LA’s lead to 3-1.
With the bases loaded, the Dodgers had an opportunity to score even more runs, but Quintana forced Will Smith to pop out and ended the inning.
Mark Vientos equalizes with a homer in the first
Shohei Ohtani kicked off Game 4 with a home run, and in response, Mets third baseman Mark Vientos hit a solo homer in the bottom of the first inning.
This was Vientos’ fourth home run of the 2024 playoffs, and with 12 RBIs, he has tied the franchise record for the most in a single postseason.
Shohei Ohtani hits a homer to start Game 4
After breaking out of a slump with a home run in Game 3, Ohtani led off Game 4 with a solo shot against Mets’ starter Jose Quintana.
Entering Thursday’s game, Quintana had already thrown 11 scoreless innings this postseason.
What time does the Mets vs Dodgers game start tonight?
The first pitch for Game 4 is set for 8:08 p.m. ET on Thursday.
- Location: Citi Field, Queens, New York
- Date: Thursday, Oct. 17
- Time: 8:08 p.m. ET
Dodgers vs Mets TV broadcast
- TV: Fox Sports 1
- Streaming: You can watch this game on Fubo (subject to regional restrictions)
Dodgers lineup for NLCS Game 4
- Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
- Mookie Betts (R) RF
- Teoscar Hernández (R) LF
- Tommy Edman (S) SS
- Enrique Hernández (R) 3B
- Max Muncy (L) 1B
- Will Smith (R) C
- Andy Pages (R) CF
- Chris Taylor (R) 2B
Mets lineup for NLCS Game 4
- Francisco Lindor (S) SS
- Mark Vientos (R) 3B
- Pete Alonso (R) 1B
- Brandon Nimmo (L) LF
- Starling Marte (R) RF
- J.D. Martinez (R) DH
- Jose Iglesias (R) 2B
- Harrison Bader (R) CF
- Francisco Alvarez (R) C
Freddie Freeman excluded from Dodgers’ Game 4 lineup
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts mentioned before the game, “He’s not feeling great, and he’s trying his best to stay in the lineup. Considering the back-to-back games and another game tomorrow, we’re just trying to decide what works best for him in the games coming up.
“Tonight, it seemed reasonable to hold him back. Of course, he wants to play, but it makes sense to avoid having him start and need to run on and off the field preparing for crucial situations.”
Dodgers achieve another shutout in Game 3
NEW YORK − Wasn’t the Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitching lineup supposed to be in disarray during the postseason?
Weren’t there worries that the Dodgers were in for another early exit due to only having three healthy starters? Didn’t their injured list contain better pitchers than those actively in the game?
Well, look who’s laughing now!
The Dodgers secured their fourth shutout in just five postseason matches, defeating the New York Mets 8-0 at Citi Field, thus taking a 2-1 lead in the National League Championship Series.
“We didn’t take it personally,” remarked Dodgers reliever Michael Kopech, who was credited with the win. “But deep down, perhaps we did.
“It’s really exciting to see what we are accomplishing.”
It’s also record-breaking.
The Dodgers are now the eighth team in postseason history to record four shutouts, just one short of the record set by Cleveland with five shutouts in 2016.
“It’s very gratifying,” said Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen. “But there’s nothing special to it. Our defense has been performing excellently behind us, and our offense has made it easier to pitch with early leads.
“We don’t let the moment feel bigger than it is. We are not scared to deliver in pressure situations.”
