The Dodgers cruised to a shutout 9-0 win over the New York Mets on Sunday at Dodger Stadium to kick off the NLCS. That gives them a 1-0 series lead heading into Monday’s Game 2 and puts them just three wins away from reaching their first World Series since they won the title in 2020.
While the Dodgers’ offense was solid once again — Max Muncy hit a two-RBI single in the first inning to give L.A. the lead right away, Shohei Ohtani followed suit with an RBI single in the second, and then a trio of guys each hit an RBI single in the fourth to put the Dodgers up 6-0 — it was the pitching that matched a wild postseason record.
Jack Flaherty pitched seven scoreless innings and allowed just two hits while striking out six in his start on Sunday. By the time the 9-0 victory was official, the Dodgers had gone a ridiculous 33 consecutive innings without allowing a run, dating to Game 3 of the NLDS against the San Diego Padres. That matched an MLB postseason record set by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1966 World Series.
Flaherty was replaced in the eighth by Daniel Hudson, who just barely made it out of the inning without allowing a run. The Dodgers added three more runs in the bottom of the inning when Mookie Betts hit a double in what was remarkably the only extra-base hit of the night. From there, the Dodgers quickly closed out the Mets in the ninth to grab the win and match the shutout record.
The two teams will run it back on Monday afternoon before making the trek across the country for Game 3 on Wednesday in Queens. If the Mets can't pick up a win in California, they'll have quite the hole to climb out of once they get back to Citi Field.
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Ryan Young
Final: Dodgers 9, Mets 0
And that'll do it. The Dodgers win Game 1 of the NLCS, and now they are just three wins away from reaching their first World Series since 2020.
The Dodgers have matched the MLB postseason record with 33 consecutive shutout innings, too.
Ryan Young
With a 9-0 lead and three outs to go, this one looks just about over at Dodger Stadium.
Daniel Hudson let two Mets baserunners on, but he made it out of the inning after Vientos struck out swinging. The Dodgers are now just three outs away from a Game 1 win.
Ryan Young
Jack Flaherty's night for the Dodgers is officially done. He pitched seven shutout innings and had six strikeouts in 98 pitches. Daniel Hudson is in now to relieve him in the eighth.
Ryan Young
The Dodgers put one on base in the seventh, but the Mets survived after Jose Butto came in to pitch to close it out. We'll head to the eighth now, and the Dodgers still lead 6-0.
Jason Owens
Make it seven scoreless innings for Jack Flaherty. The Dodgers starter pitches a 1-2-3 seventh to maintain a 6-0 Los Angeles lead. He's at 98 pitches and could see an end to his night soon.
Jason Owens
Danny Young pitches a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth for the Mets, and we go to the seventh with the Dodgers holding a 6-0 lead.
Jason Owens
The postseason record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched is 33 by the 1966 Baltimore Orioles. The Dodgers would tie those Orioles with a shutout tonight.
Jack Flaherty has shut the Mets out for six innings in Game 1 of the NLCS. The Dodgers have not allowed a run in 30 innings. The record for consecutive scoreless innings for a team in the postseason is Baltimore in the 1966 World Series with 33. What a run for Dodgers pitching.
The Mets fail to score in the sixth, and the Dodgers extend their scoreless innings streak to 30. Jack Flaherty has allowed two hits and two walks with six strikeouts in six scoreless innings.
Teoscar Hernandez ended the inning with a nice grab over the wall in foul territory.
No damage in the bottom of the fifth. David Peterson pitches a scoreless half-inning, and the Dodgers maintain a 6-0 lead.
Jason Owens
With New York's scoreless fifth inning, the Dodgers have set an NL postseason record with 29 consecutive scoreless innings pitched dating to the second inning of Game 3 of the NLDS against the San Diego Padres.
The Dodgers shut out the Padres in Games 4 and 5 to clinch the series and have held the Mets off the scoreboard through five innings of the NLCS. Not bad for a staff that has been riddled with injuries.
The Dodgers' pitching staff has now thrown 29 consecutive scoreless innings.
The Mets got their first two hits off of Jack Flaherty and managed to mess that up. Jesse Winker reached on a leadoff single in the fifth, but he got caught in a rundown between second and third on a hit by Jose Iglesias. A pair of outs to the outfield then ended the inning, and the Mets remain scoreless despite consecutive hits to lead off the inning.
Dodgers still lead 6-0.
Jason Owens
Ohtani, Dodgers pile on
The Dodgers are cruising. Tommy Edman scored Kiké Hernández on a one-out single off of David Peterson in the bottom of the fourth to increase the Los Angeles lead to 3-0.
Shohei Ohtani then smoked a line drive to the right-field wall to score Hernández. Ohtani came home on a single by Freddie Freeman to double the Dodgers' lead to 6-0 through four innings.
Jack Flaherty is perfect no more. The Dodgers' starter walked Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso in the fourth inning but got a loud out at the warning track on a fly ball to right field from Starling Marte to end the inning.
The Mets are still seeking their first hit. Dodgers lead 3-0 in the fourth.
Jason Owens
The Mets post their first scoreless inning on the mound and get out of the third trailing 3-0.
Jason Owens
New York's bullpen is in for a long day. Reed Garrett is done after 1 1/3 innings in relief of starter Kodai Senga. David Peterson takes over on the mound with two outs and no men on in the top of the third.
Jason Owens
Jack Flaherty still perfect
Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty is perfect after his first turn through the Mets' lineup. He retired the side in the third capped by a strikeout of Francisco Alvarez. That's four strikeouts and zero baserunners allowed through three innings. Dodgers lead 3-0.
Jason Owens
Here's a rare sight. Shoehei Ohtani was just caught trying to steal second base to end the second inning. It's the first time since July that the presumptive NL MVP was caught stealing. He was successful on his previous 36 attempts.
It's a short outing for Mets starter Kodai Senga. He issued a leadoff walk to Gavin Lux, who came around to score on a Shohei Ohtani single. That's a 3-0 lead for the Dodgers with one out in the bottom of the second.
Senga walked four and allowed two hits and three earned runs. He's responsible for Ohtani at first base. He was also issued a pitch-clock violation. A rough Game 1 for Senga that lasted just 30 pitches.
Jason Owens
Freddie Freeman rounding the bases on a bum ankle was a moment to celebrate at home plate.
Jack Flaherty is dealing. Six up and six down for the Dodgers starter, who has three strikeouts and a 2-0 lead after the top of the second inning. The Dodgers come to the plate in the bottom of the second looking to extend their early lead.
Jason Owens
Kodai Senga issued consecutive walks to Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez, and the Dodgers made him pay. Max Muncy scored Betts and Freeman with a two-out single to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead through one inning.
Kodai Senga walks the bases loaded with one out, and the Mets are in early trouble.
Jake Mintz
How will the Mets handle Ohtani?
One big storyline to keep an eye on during the NLCS is how the Mets try to match up against Shohei Ohtani late in games. The Padres kept Ohtani quiet in the NLDS (he went 2-for-his-last 15) in large part because they could deploy dominant southpaw reliever Tanner Scott in the later innings.
The Mets have only two left-handed relievers on their roster (David Peterson and Danny Young), neither of whom is an obvious weapon against Ohtani. Young didn’t pitch in the NLDS, and Peterson was mostly used in multi-inning spurts.
Jason Owens
Kodai Senga takes the mound for the Mets to face the Dodgers' MVP top of the order of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
Jason Owens
A quick first for Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty. A 1-2-3 inning sits down Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo.
Jason Owens
It's an ideal evening for October baseball in Los Angeles. 72 degrees and clear skies.
Jason Owens
We're moments from first pitch. Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty is warming up on the mound.
Ian Casselberry
Manny Ramirez in the house
Manny Ramirez played three seasons for the Dodgers from 2008 to 2010 and still has affection for the team.
Game 1 will influence Dodgers' pitching strategy for Game 2
How Game 1 goes for the Dodgers could influence their pitching strategy for Game 2. Walker Buehler is the likely Game 2 starter, but manager Dave Roberts said it could be a bullpen game with Buehler then starting Game 3.
To that end, Dave Roberts said it’s “a possibility” the Dodgers go bullpen game in Game 2, with Walker Buehler in Game 3. A lot of that still depends on usage tonight. https://t.co/Q8wPGafC6Y
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