LOS ANGELES – Enrique Hernandez, center fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is not known for any catchy stadium anthems, quirky rituals, or celebrity endorsements. Instead, he positions himself as a hardworking player striving to thwart the New York Mets’ hopes in the playoffs.
Following a standout performance in the Dodgers’ Division Series against the San Diego Padres, Hernandez has continued to shine in the National League Championship Series, leading the Dodgers to an 8-0 victory over the Mets in front of 43,883 fans at Citi Field. This victory marks the Dodgers’ fourth shutout in their last five postseason games, propelling them to a 2-1 series lead and putting them on the brink of a potential World Series appearance.
While the Dodgers’ pitching staff effectively neutralized the Mets’ offense, it was Hernandez who provided a crucial blow with a two-run homer in the sixth inning. Shohei Ohtani then added to the dominance with a three-run homer in the eighth inning, solidifying the lead.
Hernandez has now recorded three multi-hit games in his last five postseason appearances. When asked about his unexpected postseason power, he humorously stated, “I like Halloween,” and attributed his success to a mix of experience and the heightened intensity of playoff games. He emphasized the significance of postseason play, saying, “These are the games we’ve been dreaming of as kids,” and acknowledged that performing well in the playoffs feels rewarding.
For the Mets, this loss was particularly stinging after their recent struggles, as their pitching faltered and their offense failed to show up. Mets starter Luis Severino, who had a strong season at Citi Field, struggled with control, walking four batters over 4 ⅔ innings.
Dodger’s starter Walker Buehler outperformed expectations, pitching four shutout innings while striking out six. The Mets had a chance to score in the second inning but failed to capitalize, leaving the bases loaded.
The Dodgers took an early lead thanks to critical errors by the Mets’ defense, managing to score twice in the second inning without any balls leaving the infield. Hernandez’s critical home run in the sixth helped solidify the lead, while Ohtani’s powerful hit later further widened the gap. Max Muncy concluded the scoring with his own homer in the ninth inning, making it a blowout series win for the Dodgers.
The Dodgers now lead the series as they look ahead to game four scheduled for Thursday in New York.