MLB playoffs: Ohtani leads rout as Dodgers pummel Mets in NLCS Game 3

Shohei Ohtani launched a three-run homer for the Los Angeles Dodgers that punctuated their 8-0 victory over the New York Mets in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday night.

Kiké Hernández hit a two-run shot to make it 4-0 in the sixth inning and waved to the Citi Field crowd that he quieted. Los Angeles bounced back from a loss at home to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series by posting their fourth shutout in the past five playoff games.

Ohtani connected in the eighth with a 400-foot drive that reached the second deck in right field and barely stayed above the foul pole. Max Muncy went deep in the ninth for his 13th career postseason homer, tying Corey Seager and Justin Turner for the franchise record. Muncy also homered in Game 2.

An excited Walker Buehler struck out Francisco Lindor to leave the bases loaded, and the Dodgers got five stingy innings out of their hard-throwing bullpen. Buehler combined with four relievers on a four-hitter.

Game 4 is Thursday night in Queens, with $325 million rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto scheduled to face Los Angeles against veteran left-hander Jose Quintana.