Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers are one victory away from the World Series after another big win in October.
Ohtani started the game with a homer and scored four times, while Mookie Betts also hit a homer and drove in four runs, leading the Dodgers to a 10-2 blowout against the New York Mets. This gives them a 3-1 lead in the National League Championship Series.
“I love the way that our guys haven’t let off the gas,” said manager Dave Roberts. “We don’t want to give these guys any momentum.”
Betts had a two-run homer and a two-run double among his four hits. Max Muncy kept his streak alive, reaching base safely for 12 straight plate appearances, setting a postseason record. The Dodgers are close to winning their 25th pennant, which would be the most in National League history.
“You just ride those emotions,” Betts said. “I’ve tried to stay even-keeled and all those things. At a time like this, that doesn’t really work, so you’ve just got to jump on the rollercoaster and enjoy the ride.”
Game 5 is scheduled for Friday at Citi Field, with Jack Flaherty set to pitch for Los Angeles as they aim to secure a spot in the World Series. David Peterson will start for New York, making his first playoff start after performing well in relief this postseason.
“Peterson is fully rested. Last time he pitched was four days ago. So I’m anticipating him making a regular start,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said, adding that starter Kodai Senga will also be available to pitch from the bullpen.
Surprise cleanup hitter Tommy Edman contributed three RBIs, including a tiebreaking double against starter Jose Quintana in the third inning. Kiké Hernández then added an RBI single to make the score 3-1.
Betts expanded the lead with a two-run double in the fourth and followed up with a two-run homer in the sixth. Both hits came after Ohtani was walked three times in a row after hitting homers in the previous games.
“I just know there was a stretch there for like, two or three at-bats, I don’t think he even saw a pitch remotely close, which I understand. But it’s going to be tough to just walk him all the time,” Betts said. “We’ll see. If they want to continue to do it, that’s OK. I just need to make sure I take care of my job and the guys behind us.”
Ohtani pointed to the Dodgers’ dugout after he hit a homer. The $700 million superstar mentioned that All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman, who was out with an ankle injury, had talked to him before the game.
“Freddie talked to me to make sure that I joined the party earlier than later,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “So I was able to do that this time in my first at-bat.”
Betts, who started the night with a .200 batting average this postseason, celebrated with a big fist pump as he rounded the bases after hitting his third homer of the playoffs.
Mark Vientos gave New York a rare moment of excitement by hitting his fourth postseason homer in the first inning off rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who has a $325 million contract.
However, the Mets, who had won 14 of their last 16 games at Citi Field before returning home Wednesday, were blown out on their own field for the second night in a row.
New York has been outscored 30-9 in the series, losing 9-0 in the opener and 8-0 in Game 3.
“You’ve got to give those guys credit. That’s a deep lineup,” Mendoza said. “And whether our starters are feeling it or not, we haven’t executed and we haven’t got length from them.”
The latest disappointment after an exciting comeback this far into October left a sellout crowd of 43,882 at Citi Field quiet in the late innings — almost as empty as in April.
“If we come back from this, then it’s going to be a heck of a story,” outfielder Brandon Nimmo said.
Evan Phillips got the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings after Yamamoto, who struck out eight batters, was taken out in the fifth inning with a 5-2 lead.
Facing a 7-2 deficit, the struggling Mets had a chance to turn things around when they loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth. But Phillips managed to get two outs, and Blake Treinen ended the inning by getting pinch-hitter Jesse Winker to fly out to the right-field warning track.
“I sort of like the us-against-the-world attitude that our guys have sort of taken on. I think that’s kind of ironic with the Dodgers, but I like that,” Roberts said.
“Once we win five more games, then I’ll be much happier. But yeah, I’m very excited to be in this position. And I just want to keep our guys hungry and focused and not let these guys back in the series.”
