The Dodgers are on a mission this October. I don’t think any team can stop them. The club rebounded nicely after their 7-3 loss in game 2. The Dodgers flew into New York knowing they need to win at least two out of three to send the series back to Dodger Stadium. Or they could just win all three games. The way they are playing I think it could happen. Their 8-0 win on Wednesday night in game 3 of the NLCS over the Mets at Citi Field was their fourth shutout win of the postseason. They’ve already tied the MLB record for most consecutive scoreless innings in the postseason with 33, and now it appears they are ready to start a new streak. The Dodgers hit three home runs (Kiké, Muncy, Ohtani) and the pitching staff threw up more zeroes. The Dodgers crushed the Mets and now have a 2-1 series lead. The boys in blue are just two wins away from returning to the World Series.
The Dodgers gave the ball to Walker Buehler, who was as close to being vintage big game Buehler as we have seen him this year. Buehler tossed four shutout innings allowing just three hits and striking out six. While he spent too many bullets, he was able to escape a couple of big jams and generate a ton of swings and misses. He escaped a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the second. Walks to former Dodger J.D. Martinez, Tyrone Taylor and a ground ball single from Jose Iglesias, had Buehler in trouble. But he struck out Francisco Alvarez and Francisco Linder to end the inning. Lindor swung and missed on a nasty breaking ball.
BUETANE. pic.twitter.com/brX00gV4Ee
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 17, 2024
Meanwhile the Dodgers smashed the Mets pitching staff. Luis Severino looked like he was commanding his pitches early, but the Dodgers played some small ball with contact hitting in the top of the second. Max Muncy walked and reached second on a swinging bunt from Teoscar Hernandez. New York catcher Alvarez was not able to get the out at second. After a Gavin Lux ground out, Will Smith’s grounder deflected off of Severino’s glove scoring Muncy and advancing the runners. Tommy Edman’s sacrifice fly scored the second run to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.
The Dodgers scored two more in the top of the sixth when October Enrique Hernandez launched a two-run shot over the center field wall to put the Dodgers up 4-0. The Dodgers padded the lead on a monstrous three-run upper deck home run from Shohei Ohtani in the top of the eighth. Muncy added another home run in the top of the ninth.
OCTOBER KIKÉ CONTINUES. pic.twitter.com/uyz4808cjV
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 17, 2024
SHOHEI TO THE SECOND DECK! pic.twitter.com/7TCOtt5ciD
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 17, 2024
The Dodgers bullpen was unhittable once again. The Dodgers used four relievers (Ryan Brasier, Michael Kopech, Blake Treinen, and Ben Casparius) to blank the Mets over the final six innings. Those guys allowed just one hit, two walks and struck out seven. The Dodgers will look to take a commanding series lead in game four on Thursday evening. They’ll give the ball to Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Mets will counter with left hander Jose Quintana. Six more wins.
