Dodgers Dominate Mets to Take 3-1 NLCS Lead

The Los Angeles Dodgers continued their offensive onslaught, defeating the New York Mets 10-2 on Thursday night to seize a commanding 3-1 lead in the National League Championship Series. This marks the third time in four games that the Dodgers have showcased their powerful batting lineup.

Citi Field was electric, with a packed crowd eager to see the Mets compete. Former players from the 2000 NL pennant-winning team, Edgardo Alfonzo and Robin Ventura, threw out the first pitch, igniting excitement among the fans. However, that enthusiasm quickly turned to disappointment as Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani made an immediate impact, hitting a lead-off home run that set the tone for the game.

Ohtani’s homer marked his second consecutive game with a long ball and was also the first home run given up by Mets starting pitcher José Quintana since August 20. While the Dodgers started strong, the Mets fought back when third baseman Eduardo Escobar responded with a solo shot of his own, tying the game at one run apiece in the bottom of the first inning.

In the third inning, the Dodgers reclaimed the lead thanks to Tommy Edman, who has been a key player throughout the series. Edman hit an RBI double, and Kiké Hernández added another run to put Los Angeles ahead 3-1. Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo managed to drive in a run with a fielder’s choice, but the threat ended when Starling Marte grounded out, leaving the Mets trailing.

Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered an impressive performance, going 4.1 innings while striking out eight batters and allowing only two runs. The 26-year-old rookie proved pivotal in limiting the Mets’ scoring opportunities.

As the game progressed, the Dodgers responded to each Mets run, demonstrating their resilience. Mookie Betts doubled to left field, bringing Ohtani and Chris Taylor home, extending the Dodgers’ lead to 5-2. Betts continued to shine, hitting a two-run homer in the sixth inning, pushing the score to 7-2.

Despite the Mets’ efforts to claw back, they left the bases loaded in the sixth inning, unable to capitalize on the opportunity. This missed chance proved costly as the Dodgers pulled further ahead.

In a historic moment, Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy extended his streak of consecutive postseason plate appearances with a safe reach to 12, tying Reggie Jackson for the most all-time. However, the streak ended in the eighth inning when Muncy struck out. After the game, he expressed surprise at tying the record, stating, “That’s pretty cool. The biggest thing for me is getting on base for my teammates, creating traffic out there for the opposing team.”

The Dodgers capped off their scoring with three runs in the eighth inning, while pitcher Edgardo Henríquez closed out the game, solidifying the 10-2 victory and putting the Mets on the brink of elimination.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged the impact of Ohtani’s lead-off homer, stating that it “set the tone” for the game but emphasized that it wasn’t the sole factor in the loss. “The solo shot wasn’t going to beat us,” he remarked. “We knew that wasn’t going to beat us, but we couldn’t just stop it.”

With this victory, the Dodgers are now one win away from reaching their first World Series since 2020, when they captured the seventh title in franchise history. Betts spoke about the emotions surrounding the team’s proximity to the Fall Classic, saying, “I think I’ve tried to manage those emotions many times. I think you just ride them.”

He added, “It’s tough. At a time like this, that doesn’t really work, so you’ve just got to jump on the roller coaster and enjoy the ride.”

Game 5 is set for Friday at 5:08 p.m. ET, and all eyes will be on the Dodgers as they seek to close out the series and secure their spot in the World Series. The excitement continues to build as fans anticipate what could be a historic moment for Los Angeles baseball.