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Dodgers vs. Mets score: L.A. pitchers match MLB playoff record with another shutout in NLCS Game 1

Powered by early runs and Jack Flaherty's seven shutout innings, the Los Angeles Dodgers throttled the New York Mets 9-0 in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday night. The victory gives the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series that will determine which team advances to the World Series to face the New York Yankees or the Cleveland Guardians.

The Dodgers jumped out to a first-inning lead thanks to a two-out, two-RBI single by Max Muncy. L.A. increased that lead with a run in the second inning, and then broke it open with a three-run fourth. That bottom of the fourth saw Shohei Ohtani drive in a run on a double that left the bat at 116.5 mph:


Soon after, Ohtani, who reached base three times in Game 1, scored on Freddie Freeman's two-out single. At that point, the Dodgers led 6-0. The score held until the eighth, when Mookie Betts' bases-loaded double made it 9-0.

Now for some takeaways from NLCS Game 1. 

L.A. pitching is on a record-setting roll

Flaherty, Daniel Hudson, and Ben Casparius combined for the Game 1 shutout. That comes after the Dodgers blanked the Padres in Games 4 and 5 of the NLDS. Indeed, the Dodgers haven't allowed a run since the second inning of Game 3 against San Diego. All of that plus their suffocating of the Mets means Dodgers pitchers (and fielders) have made postseason history.

Longest scoreless inning streaks MLB postseason history

T1. 2024 Los Angeles Dodgers: 33 innings (and counting)
T1. 1966 Baltimore Orioles: 33 innings
3. 1974 Oakland Athletics: 30 innings

With a scoreless first inning in Game 2 on Monday, they'll stand alone at the top of that list. Especially huge and probably unexpected was Flaherty's seven innings of shutout work (2 H, 6 SO, 2 BB). That was just the second time this season that Flaherty worked at least seven innings. Sunday's gem also came one start after Flaherty was knocked around for four runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Padres in NLDS Game 2. On Flaherty's part, Game 1 against the Mets was a timely occasion to find his level. 

Kodai Senga had no control

The Mets in Game 1 put their hopes on the right-hander Senga, but those hopes turned out to be misplaced. Senga was not expected to work deep into the game – he made only one start in the regular season because of injuries and worked just two innings in his lone NLDS start – but getting through the L.A. order perhaps one full time and change without serious damage was a reasonable expectation. That didn't happen, and the leading culprit was Senga's lack of control. Senga lasted just 1 1/3 innings, and over that brief span he walked four batters, all in the first inning, with no strikeouts. In related matters, Senga also allowed three runs in those 1 1/3 innings. Of his 30 pitches, just 10 (!) went for strikes, and thirteen of his first 16 pitches weren't in the zone. 

Because of Senga's inability to find the zone, the Mets had to work their bullpen hard in Game 1, and the NLCS as a best-of-seven doesn't provide as much rest, at least in proportional terms, as the LDS does. Coming into this series, the Mets' relative stability in the rotation, at least compared to the Dodgers and their three healthy starters, seemed to be an advantage. That may not be much of an advantage after Senga in Game 4 recorded just four outs while his counterpart Flaherty worked seven innings. 

History favors the Dodgers

As you would expect, winning the opener of a postseason series gives a bid edge to the team that did the winning. Across all best-of-seven postseason series in MLB, the team that wins Game 1 goes on to win the entire series 64.4% of the time. Teams in the Dodgers' exact circumstances – i.e., winning Game 1 at home – fare even better: they go on to win the series in question 68.2% of the time. For the Mets, though, all it takes is a Game 2 win, and then we're back to even. 

Up next: NLCS Game 2 is scheduled for Monday back at Dodger Stadium. Lefty Sean Manea will go for the Mets, while Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has yet to disclose his pitching plans (he might opt for a bullpen game thanks to Flaherty's heavy lifting in Game 1). First pitch is scheduled for 4:08 p.m. ET. In that game, the Dodgers will be trying to become the first team ever to throw four straight postseason shutouts. 

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Live updates
 

Ohtani gets thrown out trying to steal second to end the inning. He had been successful on his last 36 steal attempts dating back to July.

 

Reed Garrett is one of NY's high leverage guys. Looks like the Mets are using him here against Betts and Freeman to keep it at 3-0, then they'll go to David Peterson (or Tylor Megill?) for length.

 

Dodgers take 3-0 lead

Shows what I know. Ohtani drives in the runner from second after the sacrifice bunt. That ends Senga's night.

Senga faced 10 batters, got four outs, and threw 30 pitches. Only 10 strikes. He was charged with three runs. 

Senga threw two innings and 31 pitches in his Game 1 start against the Phillies in the NLDS. He's working his way back from a calf injury and isn't stretched out. The Mets figure getting 2-3 innings from him is better than not having him at all, though that didn't work out too well tonight.

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Don't love bunting there with Senga struggling to throw strikes. Either way, Edman lays it down successfully, and advances the runner.

 

Another walk to start the second for Senga. And now he gets hit with a pitch clock violation.

 

That's 26 consecutive scoreless innings for LA's pitching.

 

Here's Freeman scoring from second

Mookie had to catch him to help him stop lol.

A few days ago Freeman said he usually hits the bag with his right foot, but he's had to pay extra attention to make sure he hits it with his left foot while he plays through his ankle injury. You can see him round third a bit awkwardly to avoid hitting the bag with his right foot.

 

Six up, six down for Flaherty.

 

Mets have them right where they want them

 

23 pitches, seven strikes for Senga that inning.

 

Dodgers take 2-0 lead

Max Muncy picks up Will Smith with a two-run single to center field. Freddie Freeman lumbered around third to score from second on his bad ankle:

Muncy is one of the most disciplined hitters in baseball. He's borderline passive. If the pitch is not in his nitro zone, he doesn't swing, and Senga grooved one in a 2-1 count.

That inning could have been worse -- after Muncy's single, Senga bounced a pitch and allowed the runners to move up to second and third -- but Enrique Hernández hit a tapper back to the mound for the third out. The Dodgers have an early 2-0 lead. The Mets have made comeback after comeback the last 15 days or so. They'll need another one tonight.

 

Yeah surprised Mookie didn't tag up on that ball. 

 

Three straight walks, then Will Smith swung at the first pitch and hit a weak fly ball to medium center. Mookie threw on the brakes at third and did not come home. That was ... not great.

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Three straight walks load the bases with one out. A big moment early.

 

14 pitches, three strikes for Senga.

 

Senga in Japan

He pitched 11 years with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks from 2012-22 and won six Japan Series championships (2014-15, 2017-20). The Hawks were the first team in Japan to really embrace analytics and modern player development, and it won them six titles in seven years.

 

Mookie Betts works a walk, and he's the first baserunner of Game 1. 

 

That's now 25 straight scoreless innings for Dodgers pitching. Flaherty with a 1-2-3 first inning.

 

Lindor grounds out to second on the second pitch

Game 1 is underway. Bold prediction: Ohtani and Betts hit back-to-back homers tonight.

 
 

The first pitch

Courtesy of Manny Ramirez:

After being traded to the Dodgers at the 2008 deadline, Manny hit .396/.489/.743 with 17 homers in 53 games.

 

Interested to see how deep Flaherty and Yamamoto go against what's a strong opposing lineup in either case. 

 

Welcome to Game 1

Dodgers vs. Mets at Dodger Stadium. One team goes to the World Series, the other goes home. Well, not tonight. It's a best-of-seven series. This is only Game 1. But eventually, one will go to the World Series and the other will go home. First pitch is about 15 minutes away.

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