The Dodgers have a new strategy this postseason. Just don’t allow any runs. I can get behind this one. The relaxed and confident Dodgers opened the NLCS against the Mets with a commanding 9-0 whitewashing to win game 1. Before the game we learned that Miguel Rojas and Alex Vesia were not on the NLCS roster due to injury. Kevin Kiermaier and Brent Honeywell Jr. were added to the roster to replace them.
The opening game saw Kodai Senga countering Jack Flaherty on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. What was once considered a liability for the Dodgers has turned into a strength. Flaherty was dominant as he tossed seven shutout frames, while striking out six to give the Dodgers something they have not had in three years, a quality start in the postseason. The Dodgers have now pitched 33 consecutive scoreless innings. His mound opponent meanwhile, Senga struggled with his command early and the Dodgers knocked him out of the box in the bottom of the second inning. The Dodgers offense exploded for nine runs on nine hits with seven walks. They did it without hitting a home run.
Clutch to the Max! pic.twitter.com/TIxQM6J3eM
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 14, 2024
The boys in blue scored three in the first thanks to Senga throwing a walkapalooza. Senga walked three consecutive batters (Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez) Max Muncy followed by stroking a single to center to score two and put the Dodgers up 2-0. The Dodgers added another run in bottom of the second when Gavin Lux walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice from Tommy Edman and scored on Shohei Ohtani’s RBI single. The Dodgers scored four more in the bottom of the fourth thanks to an Enrique Hernandez single, and RBI single from Edman. Ohtani laced a single off the wall to score Edman and the route was on. Freddie Freeman’s run scoring hit got another run in. 6-0 Dodgers after 4 innings.
Three-spot in the fourth! pic.twitter.com/PPnZUgsoLJ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 14, 2024
The Dodgers plated four more runs in the bottom of the eighth. Mookie cleared the bases with a three-run double which put the Dodgers on top with a 9-0 score. The Dodgers were 5 for 11 with runners in scoring position tonight. Ohtani, Freddie, and Kike each had two hits. The Mets had two fielding errors and a huge base-running blunder in the top of the fifth. The Dodgers caught Jose Iglesias in between second and third after a Jesse Winker base hit. Enrique threw to Lux to help keep the shutout streak intact. We can’t forget about the Dodger defense which has been fantastic since the third game of the NLDS.
The series continues on Monday afternoon. Sean Manaea will take the mound for the Mets. The Dodgers have not announced a starting pitcher, but there are reports surfacing they will do another bullpen game. If not then Walker Bueher may get the start, or at least eat some innings at some point tomorrow. 7 more wins.
