Queens, NY—-After a commanding victory, Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves just one win away from the World Series. Ohtani launched a leadoff home run and scored four times, while Mookie Betts also made a significant impact with a two-run homer and four RBIs, leading the Dodgers to a 10-2 triumph over the New York Mets on Thursday night.
This win gives the Dodgers a 3-1 lead in the National League Championship Series. Manager Dave Roberts praised his team’s relentless approach, stating, “I love the way our guys haven’t let off the gas. We don’t want to give these guys any momentum.”
Betts showcased his power and versatility with a two-run double and a two-run homer among his four hits. Max Muncy set a postseason record by reaching base safely in 12 consecutive plate appearances, as the Dodgers closed in on their 25th pennant, the most in National League history.
“You just ride those emotions,” said Betts. “I’ve tried to stay even-keeled, but in moments like this, it doesn’t really work. You have to enjoy the ride.” The Mets are turning to David Peterson for his first playoff start after he has performed well out of the bullpen in previous games. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza noted, “Peterson is fully rested. He pitched four days ago, so I’m expecting him to make a regular start,” while adding that Kodai Senga would be available in relief.
Surprise cleanup hitter Tommy Edman contributed three RBIs, including a crucial tiebreaking double off starter José Quintana with two outs in the third inning. Kiké Hernández followed up with an RBI single, putting the Dodgers ahead 3-1.
Betts broke the game open in the fourth inning, hitting a two-run double against reliever José Buttó, and later added a two-run homer off right-hander Phil Maton in the sixth inning. These key hits came after Ohtani was intentionally walked three times, a decision Betts understood but also questioned.
“It’s tough to walk him all the time. If they want to continue doing that, that’s okay, but I need to focus on my job and the guys behind me,” Betts remarked.
Ohtani pointed to the Dodgers’ dugout after his leadoff homer. The star player, who has a massive $700 million contract, received encouragement from All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman, who missed the game due to an ankle injury. Betts celebrated his third homer of the postseason with an enthusiastic fist pump as he rounded the bases.
The Mets’ Mark Vientos provided a brief spark for his team by hitting his fourth postseason home run in the first inning off $325 million rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto. However, the Mets, who had been 14-2 in their last 16 games at Citi Field, faced another blowout loss on their home turf.
New York has been outscored 30-9 in the series, suffering a 9-0 defeat in the opener and an 8-0 loss in Game 3. “You’ve got to give those guys credit. That’s a deep lineup,” Mendoza acknowledged. “Whether our starters are feeling it or not, we haven’t executed well or gotten length from them.”
The latest defeat silenced a sellout crowd of 43,882 and left Citi Field eerily quiet as the game progressed. Outfielder Brandon Nimmo expressed hope for a comeback, saying, “If we come back from this, it’s going to be a heck of a story. I sort of like the us-against-the-world attitude that our guys have taken on.”
Roberts, reflecting on the Dodgers’ position, stated, “Once we win five more games, I’ll be much happier. But I’m very excited to be in this position. I just want to keep our guys hungry and focused to ensure we don’t let them back in the series.”
Injury Updates:
Dodgers: Freeman missed his second consecutive playoff game due to a severely sprained and swollen right ankle.
Mets: Catcher Francisco Alvarez left the game in the fifth inning after getting hit by a 91 mph sinker from Yamamoto and was replaced by a pinch hitter in the sixth with the bases loaded.
Looking Ahead:
Acquired from Detroit at the July 30 trade deadline, Jack Flaherty has performed well for the Dodgers, going 6-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 10 regular-season starts and allowing just two hits over seven innings in the NLCS opener. Peterson, who was 10-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 21 regular-season starts, has shown his worth in the postseason by saving the Wild Card Series clincher and winning the Division Series clincher in relief.
