The Los Angeles Dodgers opened their National League Championship Series with a resounding 9-0 victory over the New York Mets on Sunday night.
Pitcher Jack Flaherty produced a masterclass with seven shutout innings, while the team’s $700 million man Shohei Ohtani had two hits and scored twice to win Game 1.
Daniel Hudson and Ben Casparius also pitched an inning for the Dodgers, who extended their scoreless streak to 33 consecutive innings to tie a postseason record.
Los Angeles has not allowed a run since the second inning of Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres and, on this evidence, appears destined for the World Series.
Mookie Betts had a three-run double, Max Muncy had a two-run single and Freddie Freeman had two hits with an RBI while playing with a sprained right ankle as the Dodgers won their fifth straight game over the Mets.
Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Mets 9-0 this Sunday
It was a tough night for the New York Mets, who face an uphill battle to reach the World Series.
Flaherty allowed two hits with two walks and six strikeouts while Kodai Senga allowed three runs with four walks and only lasted 30 balls for the Mets.
New York had only three hits, all singles. It was a difficult night for the Mets, who lost an opener for the first time in three series this postseason.
The Dodgers turned three consecutive first-inning walks into two runs on Muncy’s single before taking advantage of Senga’s generosity again in the second inning.
Gavin Lux walked to lead off the inning and scored on Ohtani’s single for a 3-0 lead.
Ohtani was then thrown out by Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez while attempting to steal second base, ending his streak of 36 consecutive successful attempts dating back to July 22.
The Dodgers took a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning when Enrique Hernandez singled and scored on Tommy Edman’s single.
Pitcher Jack Flaherty gave a master class with seven scoreless innings at Dodger Stadium
Ohtani’s streak of 36 consecutive successful attempts dating back to July 22 finally ended
Ohtani followed with a single off the right field wall for a 5-0 lead, with Edman scoring after right fielder Starling Marte spun the ball. Freddie Freeman made it 6-0 with a single to left field.
Flaherty did not allow a hit until Jesse Winker of the Mets led off the fifth with a single.
The hit ended the Dodgers’ streak of 28 consecutive batters retired, dating back to the third inning of Game 5 of the NLDS.
Los Angeles’ scoreless streak is a National League record and tied the Baltimore Orioles’ best streak of 33 consecutive innings in the 1966 World Series that ended in a sweep of the Dodgers.
Game two of the best-of-seven series is Monday, while the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians begin the American League Championship Series later Monday.