Abhay Singh
Game one of Major League Baseball’s National League Championship Series saw the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the New York Mets 9-0 thanks to a masterful seven scoreless innings from pitcher Jack Flaherty.
Mookie Betts hit a double that scored three runs. Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese sensation, electrified the Dodger Stadium fans with a single that nearly cleared the outfield wall in addition to driving in two runs. Max Muncy also contributed two runs.
“It’s a lot of fun,”
However, the Dodgers’ triumph to begin the best-of-seven series was driven by more outstanding pitching, lockdown defense, and a disciplined at-bat effort.
Flaherty said “It’s a lot of fun, You can’t put it all into words. But the most important part was coming out and setting a tone.”
The major league post-season record of 33 consecutive scoreless innings, which was achieved by the Baltimore Orioles during the first four games of the 1996 World Series against the Dodgers, has now been tied by the Dodgers pitchers.
Ohtani said “Each and every one of the pitchers has been doing their job exceptionally well and it’s really setting the tone for the offensive part of the game to be able to feel comfortable and score runs,”
On Monday, the Dodgers will host game two of the series in an attempt to extend their lead. The Cleveland Guardians or New York Yankees, who begin the American League Championship Series on Monday, will host the World Series champion.
The Dodgers led 6-0 after Flaherty retired the first nine batters he faced, surrendering only two hits and two walks while striking out six. Meanwhile, Kodai Senga, the opening pitcher for the Mets, only managed four outs due to his costly strikeout ineptitude.
Senga walked three straight batters to load the bases after retiring Ohtani to begin the bottom of the first, then allowed Muncy to single for two runs.
Gavin Lux was walked by him to open the second. Senga’s day came to an end when Lux advanced to second on a sacrifice fly and scored on a crisp single to right field by Ohtani.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said “He just didn’t have it together,”
“I can look on it and say that we did a good job today,”
After walking Enrique Hernandez to start the fourth inning, Mets reliever David Peterson allowed the Dodgers to score three more runs. Tommy Edman singled in Hernandez to tie the game, and Ohtani followed with a grand slam to center field for a shot that should have been a double.
As Ohtani advanced to second on what was ultimately determined to be a throwing error—one of three made by New York—Edman dashed around for a run.
6-0 Dodgers after Ohtani, who was greeted with cries of “MVP” every time he touched the bat, scored on a bloop single to left field by Freddy Freeman.
Flaherty, helped by the Dodgers defense, managed to go through the fifth inning without giving up a run. Jesse Winker, the designated hitter for the Mets, singled to start the inning. Winker hesitated to attempt a third after Jose Iglesias singled, and he was caught for the first out of yet another scoreless inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, Betts increased the lead with a bases-loaded double to left center, driving in all three runners and making it 9-0—the biggest shutout victory in Dodgers playoff history.
Flaherty said “I can look on it and say that we did a good job today, It’s a really good team over there, and we had a good game one, but we’ve got to come back tomorrow and keep our foot on the pedal, not let up at all.”
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