Dodgers Dominate Mets in Game 1 of NLCS, Matching MLB Playoff Record

The Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off the National League Championship Series (NLCS) with a resounding victory over the New York Mets, winning 9-0 at Dodger Stadium on Sunday. This impressive performance not only secured a commanding win but also allowed the Dodgers to tie an MLB playoff record with 33 consecutive scoreless innings pitched.

This remarkable feat matches the record previously set by the Baltimore Orioles during the 1966 World Series, when they achieved four consecutive shutout games against the Dodgers, thanks in part to Hall of Famer Jim Palmer’s stellar rotation.

Jack Flaherty was the standout pitcher for the Dodgers, delivering a dominant seven-inning performance. He allowed only two hits and two walks while striking out six batters, marking him as the first Dodgers pitcher since Clayton Kershaw in 2020 to throw a scoreless playoff start of seven innings or more. Reflecting on the team’s performance, Flaherty stated, “It’s been just picking up where the last guy left off. You know that the guy coming in after you has got your back. And that’s why this whole team has felt like everybody is just feeding off of each other right now.”

Flaherty’s control was evident as he maintained a solid grip on the game, allowing his first base runner—a walk to Francisco Lindor—in the fourth inning, by which time the Dodgers were already leading 3-0. This marked the first time in 29 at-bats that a batter managed to reach base against Los Angeles pitching.

Throughout postseason history, only three other franchises have managed to retire 27 or more consecutive batters: the 1926 St. Louis Cardinals, the 1939 Cincinnati Reds, and the New York Yankees in 1927, 1956, and 2004. Dodgers catcher Will Smith praised the team’s pitching depth, saying, “They just went out there and dominated. I’m back there calling the pitches, but it’s all those guys executing what we’re deciding. We’re just trying to keep it going.”

In stark contrast, Mets pitcher Kodai Senga had a rough outing, exiting the game early in the second inning after facing just ten batters and surrendering three runs. Max Muncy got the scoring started with a two-run single in the first inning, setting the tone for the Dodgers. Shohei Ohtani added an RBI single in the second, further complicating matters for Senga, who was making only his third start of the season due to injuries that plagued him throughout the regular campaign.

The Dodgers continued to build their lead with additional runs in the fourth and eighth innings. In the fourth, Tommy Edman and Freddie Freeman contributed with RBI singles, sandwiching a key RBI double from Ohtani.

In the eighth inning, Mookie Betts delivered a crushing blow with a bases-clearing double, capping off the scoring with a total of nine runs and ensuring the Dodgers’ victory marked one of the largest shutout wins in playoff history.

As the series continues, Game 2 of the best-of-seven NLCS is set to take place on Monday at Dodger Stadium. With the Dodgers riding high on momentum and historic pitching performances, they will look to maintain their dominance against the Mets and move one step closer to the World Series. The stage is set for what promises to be an exciting matchup as both teams vie for supremacy in this critical playoff series.