NY Mets celebrate clinching 2024 NLCS trip with win over Phillies
The New York Mets celebrated clinching a trip to the NLCS with a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Oct. 9, 2024, at Citi Field.
After the Dodgers and Mets split the first two games in Los Angeles, the National League Championship Series shifts to New York for Game 3 on Wednesday night.
The Dodgers crushed the Mets 9-0 in Game 1 behind a stellar start from Jack Flaherty, but New York responded with a convincing 7-3 win in Game 2, highlighted by rookie Mark Vientos‘ grand slam.
Luis Severino (11-7, 3.91 ERA) starts for the Mets and has turned in a quality start in each of his two 2024 postseason outings. Walker Buehler (1-6, 5.38 ERA) took the loss in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Padres, giving up six runs in the first two innings.
“The East Coast/West Coast, LA/New York thing is pretty cool,” Buehler said a day before Game 3. “I imagine it’s going to be rocking here tomorrow. “
Follow along for updates from Wednesday’s game at Citi Field:
Kike Hernandez does it again with his 15th career postseason home run. With two outs in the sixth inning, Hernandez hits a two-run homer off relief pitcher Reed Garrett to give the Dodgers a 4-0 lead.
Dodgers 4, Mets 0, bottom 6th
The Dodgers are banking on their bullpen to finish Game 3. Michael Kopech replaces Walker Buehler in the fifth inning with the Dodgers leading 2-0. Said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts during an in-game interview about Walker Buehler’s night so far, and what the plan for the bullpen: “The first thing is I’ll get Kopech on (Francisco) Lindor and then we’ll go from there.”
It worked to perfection with a 1-2-3 fifth, including getting Lindor to fly out to lead off the inning.
Buehler’s line: 4.0 innings, 3 hits, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K.
Freddie Freeman with the scoop at first base to get Tyrone Taylor out in the fourth inning.
Francisco Lindor with the incredible backhand at shortstop to rob Mookie Betts of a hit in the 5th inning.
This time it was the Mets who escaped a bases-loaded jam. With one out and bases loaded in the third inning, Luis Severino got Teoscar Hernandez to line out to third and Gavin Lux to ground out to Severino.
Dodgers 2, Mets 0, bottom third
The Mets had their first major chance to get back against Walker Buehler in the bottom of the second.
With one out, J.D. Martinez walked, Jose Iglesias singled on a grounder that was bobbled by Tommy Edman and Tyrone Taylor walked to load the bases. But Francisco Alvarez was frozen on an outside fastball and Francisco Lindor swung through a high fastball.
The Dodgers jumped to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning − without even hitting the ball out of the infield against Mets starter Luis Severino.
Max Muncy walked. Teoscar Hernández grounded into a fielder’s choice. Gavin Lux grounded out to Severino. Muncy to third, Hernández to second. Then Will Smith hit an infield single off Severino’s glove to score Muncy and move Hernández to third base with one out.
The Dodgers added a second run on a sacrifice fly from Tommy Edman, which could have been worse if not for a highlight-reel catch from Tyrone Taylor in centerfield potentially saving a third run from scoring.
Much has been written about Shohei Ohtani’s struggles at the plate this postseason. He is 0-for-19 with no one on base, but 6-for-8 with runners on. So it begged the question Tuesday during Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ press conference.
Is there any thoughts about shuffling the lineup for the rest of the series?
“No, there isn’t,” Roberts said Tuesday. “I just think that early on it’s just funny how things change where there was a lot of concern about Shohei not being able to get hits with the runners in scoring position. And now we’re all trying to find ways that he’s − have to get guys on base so he can hit, right? I kind of find that comical, a little bit.
“So I don’t think that anyone can predict who is going to get on base in Game 3 or Game 4. So I feel that kind of there’s some tweaks that I do make as far as Teo (Hernandez), Freddie (Freeman), the 5, 6, maybe the 7, 8, 9. But to think that I’m going to move Shohei to the 4 or the 3, that’s just not going to happen.”
NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani kept his composure Tuesday, occasionally smiling, even mixing in some laughter, refusing to let anyone see him sweat.
If he feels the pressure of trying to carry the Los Angeles Dodgers to the World Series, he’s not publicly showing it.
The Dodgers have certainly done just fine without him making his presence felt, reaching the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets. But at some point, to get where the Dodgers want to ultimately go, they’re going to need him.
The Dodgers are loaded with stars, but it’s hard to imagine them riding in a World Series parade in downtown Los Angeles if Ohtani continues to struggle. He’s just 6-for-27 this postseason and is homerless in his last six games.
“This is my first experience in the postseason,’’ Ohtani said, “so I can’t really rely on the experiences or my reflection in the past. But what I do know is that we’ve been playing against good teams, better teams, with their best pitchers. So being able to get base hits, put up results, isn’t as easy maybe as it could be.’’
Dodgers vs Mets Game 3 time
First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET at Citi Field on Wednesday night.
- Location: Citi Field in Queens, New York
- Date: Wednesday, Oct. 16
Mets vs Dodgers TV channel
Mets lineup, NLCS Game 3
- Francisco Lindor (S) SS
- Mark Vientos (R) 3B
- Brandon Nimmo (L) LF
- Pete Alonso (R) 1B
- Starling Marte (R) RF
- J.D. Martinez (R) DH
- Jose Iglesias (R) 2B
- Tyrone Taylor (R) CF
- Francisco Alvarez (R) C
Dodgers lineup, NLCS Game 3
- Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
- Mookie Betts (R) RF
- Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
- Max Muncy (L) 3B
- Teoscar Hernández (R) LF
- Gavin Lux (L) 2B
- Will Smith (R) C
- Tommy Edman (S) SS
- Enrique Hernández (R) CF
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