The Los Angeles Dodgers have a 3-1 lead in the NLCS after a show of force in Game 4, with their offense knocking around the New York Mets pitching staff early and often in a 10-2 win.
Shohei Ohtani provided a sign of things to come with a leadoff homer in the first inning, his first all postseason with the bases empty. The Dodgers added multiple runs to their lead in the third inning, then the fourth inning, then the sixth inning, then the eighth inning. Their offense was relentless and exacting, drawing nine walks, plus a hit-by-pitch from a Mets staff that could be starting to feel the short starts from their rotation.
Mets reliever Danny Young threw a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth frame. It was New York’s first clean inning since the fourth inning of Game 3.
Meanwhile, Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed two earned runs in 4 1/3 innings of work while striking out eight. The bullpen took over from there and didn’t allow a run, though Evan Phillips and Blake Treinen both ran into some rare trouble during their outings.
The end result is a dire situation for the Mets, who have few good options to start on the mound in an elimination game on Friday. The possibilities:
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Kodai Senga, who is still working his way back from an injury and got knocked around in 1 1/3 innings of work in Game 1
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David Peterson, who had a strong regular season as a starter but has worked out of the bullpen all postseason
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Sean Manaea, who was great in Game 2 but would be pitching on short rest (and kicks the can down the road)
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A full bullpen game, which is basically what Senga’s Game 1 disaster turned into (the Dodgers ended up scoring nine runs)
Meanwhile, the Dodgers will be starting Jack Flaherty, who threw seven scoreless innings in Game 1. They will be heavily favored in Game 5, currently scheduled for Friday at 5:08 p.m. at Citi Field (Fox Sports 1).
Here’s how it all went down at Yahoo Sports:
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FINAL: Dodgers 10, Mets 2
The Dodgers’ offense did what it wanted, and they’re now one win from a pennant.
Game 5 is scheduled for Friday at 5:08 p.m. ET, with Jack Flaherty scheduled to face TBD.
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The Dodgers go down in order in the ninth inning. Per the FS1 broadcast, it was their first 1-2-3 inning since the fourth inning of Game 3. Their offense has been that good.
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“You all f***ing suck.”
A Mets fan (we assume) makes his thoughts clear to the Fox Sports 1 microphones.
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The Mets have several options for who pitches in Game 5, and none of them is ideal. There are:
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Kodai Senga, who is still working his way back from an injury and got knocked around in 1 1/3 innings of work in Game 1
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David Peterson, who had a strong regular season as a starter but has worked out of the bullpen all postseason
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Sean Manaea, who was great in Game 2 but would be pitching on short rest (and that kicks the can down the road)
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A bullpen game, which is basically what Senga’s Game 1 disaster turned into (the Dodgers ended up scoring nine runs)
With Jack Flaherty starting for the Dodgers following his seven scoreless innings in Game 1, Los Angeles figures to be heavily favored to close this thing out on Friday.
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Edgardo Henriquez throws a scoreless eighth inning. The end is near.
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The Dodgers now have ace defender Kevin Kiermaier, who pinch ran for Teoscar Hernandez, in center field, pushing Andy Pages to Hernandez’s spot in left field.
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Shohei Ohtani fouled a ball hard off his left knee and was in some pretty clear pain. He stayed in but was still noticeably limping around after a pitch. He strikes out to end the inning, and the Dodgers will now make sure he’s OK.
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Citi Field vibe check 2.0:
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Will Smith scores Edman with a single. The Dodgers have a lot of runs. Every player in their lineup has a hit. The Mets are in a bad place.
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It’s not all good for the Dodgers. Max Muncy strikes out and snaps his postseason on-base streak at a record-tying 12. Tough to watch.
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This is a very good point. The Padres have a good rotation and one of the few lineups that can match up with the Dodgers. San Diego had them on the ropes, then their offense disappeared in the NLDS. There might not be a team that matches up better against Los Angeles left in this postseason.
The Padres were really, really good.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) October 18, 2024
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Dodgers 9, Mets 2
The Dodgers are just trying to break spirits now. Tommy Edman plates two runs with a double, and that’s three games this series with at least eight runs.
It’s the eighth inning, and some Mets fans are leaving.
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Teoscar Hernandez draws another walk, the Dodgers’ eighth of the game and 30th of the series. Per the broadcast, that ties the record for most in the first four games of a championship series. Combined with the power at the top of the order, that’s a tough combination to beat across a series.
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Marte flies out just short of the warning track. It’s been more eventful than usual for the Dodgers bullpen in this game, but they still haven’t allowed a run. Six outs left for the Mets to score five runs, or else they need an even bigger comeback to win this series.
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Treinen allows a leadoff single to Francisco Lindor, then Brandon Nimmo puts runners on the corners with a two-out single. Mets have a chance for multiple runs here, and it comes down to Starling Marte.
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Gasp, the Mets got Ohtani out with runners on base.
It’s still 7-2 with the top of the Mets order due up in the bottom of the seventh inning. Blake Treinen will be staying in after throwing two pitches in the sixth.
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Shoutout to Scarlett Johansson for wearing a hat from The Met at this game.
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Shohei Ohtani comes up with runners on first and second and two outs, and that will do it for Phil Maton. The left-handed Danny Young comes in and will try to keep this game within semi-reasonable striking distance.
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Dodgers rookie Andy Pages takes an 88 mph sinker to the right wrist. He was in some clear pain but looks like he’s staying in the game.
That’s now eight free passes granted to the Dodgers lineup this game (seven walks and the HBP). That’s nearly an entire turn through the order, in a series in which preserving your bullpen is vital.
