The New York Mets found themselves in a difficult situation right from the start at Dodger Stadium on Sunday night, suffering a significant setback in their first game of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Pitcher Kodai Senga, making his second start after returning from a 60-day injury list, struggled with his control and managed to record only four outs, resulting in three earned runs. Ultimately, the Mets fell to the Dodgers with a score of 9-0, witnessed by a crowd of 53,503.
Due to Senga’s early struggles, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was forced to employ four relievers to get through the remaining 20 outs. The Dodgers capitalized further, scoring three additional runs off pitcher David Peterson in the fourth inning and another three from Jose Butto in the eighth.
The Mets offense faced challenges as well, with Jack Flaherty of the Dodgers dominating the game. Flaherty pitched seven innings without allowing a run, giving up only two hits and two walks while striking out six Mets batters.
Despite their ability to stage dramatic comebacks throughout the 2024 playoffs, the Mets could not overcome the early deficit in this contest.
Mookie Betts played a pivotal role in the Dodgers’ victory, contributing to the scoring with a three-run double that broke the game open. After an error by Mets’ first baseman Pete Alonso and a bases-loaded situation, Betts sent a sharp ground ball past third base, allowing three runs to cross the plate.
Flaherty was unhittable, finishing the game having retired the last eight batters he faced.
The Mets’ Jesse Winker provided the team with its first hit of the game in the fifth inning but ended up costing the Mets a potential run. After reaching second base on a bloop single, he was caught in a rundown and tagged out while trying to advance to third.
Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani from the Dodgers made a noticeable impact, delivering an RBI single that sent Senga to the bench and scored another run later in the game, contributing to a decisive four-hit rally.
Flaherty’s performance was impressive, as he breezed through the Mets lineup without surrendering a hit the first time around. Mendoza’s decision to remove Senga early came after Senga struggled with command, walking three batters in quick succession.
As the series continues, both teams are setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting NLCS.