NEW YORK — In a commanding performance, Shohei Ohtani kicked off the game with a homer and scored four runs as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Mets 10-2 on Thursday night, taking a 3-1 lead in the National League Championship Series. Mookie Betts also made a significant contribution, adding a home run and driving in four runs to help propel the Dodgers towards their 25th pennant, the most in National League history.
Betts recorded four hits, which included a two-run homer and a two-run double. Max Muncy continued his streak of reaching base safely, extending it to an impressive 12 plate appearances—a new postseason record. Game 5 is set for Friday at Citi Field, where Jack Flaherty is anticipated to pitch for the Dodgers, presenting the opportunity to secure a spot for his team in the World Series. Meanwhile, the Mets have not announced their starting pitcher yet, although Kodai Senga or David Peterson are likely candidates.
Tommy Edman, who unexpectedly batted cleanup, was instrumental for the Dodgers with three RBIs. He broke the game’s tie with a crucial two-out double in the third inning off starter Jose Quintana, followed by Kiké Hernández, who added an RBI single, increasing the score to 3-1. Betts then further solidified the Dodgers’ lead in the fourth by hitting a two-run double against reliever Jose Buttó, and later a two-run homer in the sixth inning off Phil Maton, both of which followed walks to Ohtani. Betts celebrated his third postseason homer with a triumphant fist pump as he rounded the bases.
The Mets managed only one highlight when Mark Vientos hit his fourth postseason homer during the first inning off rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who has a contract worth $325 million. However, for the second night in a row, the Mets fell short at home after arriving with an exceptional record of 14-2 in their last 16 games at Citi Field. They have been outscored 30-9 across the series, with results of 9-0 in the opener and 8-0 in Game 3, leaving their fans in disbelief and silence as the game wore on.
In health-related news, Dodgers’ All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman sat out for the second consecutive game in the playoffs due to a severely sprained right ankle. On the Mets’ side, catcher Francisco Alvarez displayed discomfort after he was hit by a sinker from Yamamoto. He was eventually replaced by a pinch hitter during a critical moment in the sixth inning with the bases loaded.
Looking ahead, Flaherty, who joined the team from Detroit shortly before the trade deadline, finished the regular season with a 6-2 record and a 3.58 ERA over ten starts for the Dodgers. His overall record stands at 13-7 with a 3.17 ERA. In his previous outing in this series, Flaherty allowed just two hits over seven innings while leading the Dodgers to a 9-0 victory in the first game.
