Shohei Ohtani Powers Dodgers to 8-0 Victory Over Mets, Taking 2-1 Lead in NLCS

Shohei Ohtani Powers Dodgers to 8-0 Victory Over Mets

By the time Shohei Ohtani stepped up to the plate in the eighth inning on Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers were already in control of Game 3 of the National League Championship Series. But once Ohtani connected, the game was effectively over.

He launched a three-run homer that propelled the Dodgers to an emphatic 8-0 victory over the New York Mets, giving Los Angeles a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Kiké Hernández contributed a two-run shot in the sixth inning, marking his 15th career postseason homer and silencing the Citi Field crowd. The Dodgers rebounded strongly from a previous home loss, marking their fourth shutout in the last five playoff games.

“These guys are locked in and know their job is to prevent runs,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “We’re also playing solid defense.”

Game 4 is set for Thursday night in Queens, featuring $325 million rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound for the Dodgers against veteran left-hander José Quintana.

Ohtani's towering 410-foot homer sailed into the second deck in right field. He admired the shot at home plate as it barely stayed fair above the foul pole. In the ninth inning, Max Muncy joined the home run party, hitting his 13th career postseason homer, tying Corey Seager and Justin Turner for the franchise record. Muncy reflected, “It’s definitely a blessing to play enough games to reach those numbers.”

Dodgers starter Walker Buehler showcased his prowess, striking out Francisco Lindor on a full-count knuckle curve to leave the bases loaded in the second inning. A fired-up Buehler celebrated as he walked off the mound, with Roberts praising the pivotal strikeout as a game-changer. Buehler, who struck out six in four innings of three-hit ball, showed resilience after struggling in his previous outing.

“Walker is a different animal in the postseason,” Muncy noted. “We all knew he’d rise to the occasion tonight.”

Buehler combined with four relievers for a four-hit shutout, while the Dodgers pitchers tallied 13 strikeouts. Mets starter Luis Severino fell behind early, partly due to some defensive errors, and despite not allowing an earned run, he struggled with control, walking four batters in 4 2/3 innings.

The Dodgers had previously blanked the Mets 9-0 in the NLCS opener, extending their scoreless streak to 33 innings—a postseason record. Ohtani, who entered the game batting .222 with one homer and five RBIs in his first postseason, found his stride, hitting his first home run since the Division Series opener.

“It’s important for Shohei to build confidence,” Roberts said.

When Ohtani connected on an 0-1 cutter from Tylor Megill, he pointed to the Dodgers dugout. The initial call of fair was confirmed after a replay review.

Los Angeles improved to 4-0 at Citi Field this season, outscoring the Mets 26-5 in those games. New York manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged the need for his team to capitalize on their scoring opportunities, saying, “As long as we keep creating traffic, someone will come through.”

Injury Update: The Dodgers welcomed back second baseman Gavin Lux, who missed Game 2 due to a right hip flexor injury.

Looking Ahead: Yamamoto (7-2, 3.00 ERA) aims to build on his strong performance in the Division Series, while Quintana (10-10, 3.75 ERA) looks to continue his postseason success without allowing an earned run in his last two starts.

Shohei Ohtani Powers Dodgers to 8-0 Victory Over Mets, Taking 2-1 Lead in NLCS