Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers take first step towards the World Series by thrashing the New York Mets 9-0 in game one of the NLCS
The Los Angeles Dodgers opened their National League Championship Series on Sunday evening with a resounding 9-0 victory over the New York Mets.
Pitcher Jack Flaherty produced a masterclass with seven scoreless innings, while Shohei Ohtani, the team’s $700 million man, had two singles and scored twice to win Game 1.
Daniel Hudson and Ben Casparius also each pitched an inning for the Dodgers, who extended their scoreless streak to 33 consecutive innings, tying a postseason record.
Los Angeles hasn’t allowed a run since the second inning of Game 3 in the NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres and seems destined for the World Series based on this evidence.
Mookie Betts had a three-run double, Max Muncy had a two-run single and Freddie Freeman had two hits with an RBI while playing on a sprained right ankle as the Dodgers won their fifth straight game against the Mets.
Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Mets 9-0 on Sunday
It was a tough night for the New York Mets, who have an uphill battle to reach the World Series
Flaherty gave up two hits with two walks and six strikeouts, while Kodai Senga gave up three runs with four walks and lasted just 30 balls for the Mets.
New York had only three hits, all singles. It was a tough night for the Mets, who lost an opener for the first time in three series this postseason.
The Dodgers turned three straight walks in the first inning into two runs on Muncy’s single before again taking advantage of Senga’s generosity in the second inning.
Gavin Lux led off the inning with a walk and scored on a single by Ohtani for a 3-0 lead.
Ohtani was then thrown out by Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez as he tried to steal second base, ending his streak of 36 consecutive successful attempts dating back to July 22.
The Dodgers took a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning when Enrique Hernandez singled and scored on a single by Tommy Edman.
Pitcher Jack Flaherty produced a masterclass with seven scoreless innings at Dodger Stadium
Ohtani’s streak of 36 consecutive successful attempts, dating back to July 22, finally came to an end
Ohtani followed with a single off the right field wall for a 5-0 lead, with Edman scoring after right fielder Starling Marte bobbled the ball. Freddie Freeman made it 6-0 with a single to left.
Flaherty didn’t allow a hit until Jesse Winker of the Mets led off the fifth with a single.
The hit ended the Dodgers’ streak of 28 consecutive batters retired, going back to the third inning of Game 5 in the NLDS.
Los Angeles’ scoreless streak is an NL record and tied the Baltimore Orioles’ major league best run of 33 consecutive innings in the 1966 World Series, which ended in a sweep of the Dodgers.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Monday, while the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians begin the ALCS later on Monday.