Dodgers Pitching Dominates Mets in NLCS Opener, Tie Postseason Record with 33 Consecutive Shutout Innings

Behind a huge outing on the mound from Jack Flaherty, the Los Angeles Dodgers have taken the early jump in the National League Championship Series.

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.

Dodgers Pitching Dominance

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.

Mets Struggles on the Mound

The Mets' struggles began early as starter Kodai Senga lasted just 1 1/3 innings, walking four of his first eight batters, including three in a row in a 14-pitch span in the first inning. The Dodgers capitalized on Senga's struggles, scoring two runs in the first and adding another in the second.

A Series Filled with Big Games

The Dodgers, who shut out the Padres in Games 4 and 5 of the NLDS, showed their resilience as they have held the Mets off the scoreboard through five innings of the NLCS. The pitching staff has now thrown 29 consecutive scoreless innings, setting an NL postseason record. The Mets, on the other hand, will need to find a way to break through the Dodgers' pitching if they want to make a serious run for the pennant.

Looking Ahead

The two teams will now head to New York for Game 3 on Wednesday, where the Mets will be looking to even the series. However, if they can't get a win in California, they'll be in a difficult position to overcome a deficit in their own stadium.