2024-10-17 16:55:06
NEW YORK — The Dodgers’ streak of 33 consecutive scoreless innings came to an end in the Game 2 loss against the Mets. They were determined to start another streak on Wednesday.
Behind Walker Buehler’s four solid innings and the bullpen continuing its dominant run in October, the Dodgers tossed their fourth shutout in five games with an 8-0 win over the Mets in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series at Citi Field. The Dodgers are the first team in postseason history with at least three shutout wins of seven or more runs in a single postseason.
In all best-of-seven postseason series that have been tied 1-1, the team winning Game 3 has gone on to win the series 69 of 100 times (69%). Under the current 2-3-2 format, teams breaking a 1-1 tie by winning Game 3 on the road have gone on to win the series 30 of 40 times (75%).
“I’m just impressed with this club in general. It’s been a lot of fun to be a part of,” said Dodgers reliever Michael Kopech. “The offense does what they’re gonna do. We know what they’re capable of. But to be able to come in and kind of help shut the door and give them a little bit of breathing room, and have them do the same for us, it’s been huge.”
From the start, it was clear Buehler didn’t have his best command. He threw two balls to Francisco Lindor to start his outing and switched over to pitching out of the stretch to find a better rhythm.
But while Buehler’s performance wasn’t always pretty, it sure was effective.
Buehler struck out six and recorded 18 swings and misses, which is the most in the first four innings of a postseason game since pitch-tracking data became available in 2008.
“It’s been a roller coaster of a year for Walker to say the least, but you know, we’ve always said it, big game, we want Walker on the mound — and there’s a thing with guys that like the stage,” said Dodgers utilityman Kiké Hernández, who delivered a big two-run homer. “I don’t know what else to say other than when Walker is on the mound in a big game, we feel really good about ourselves.”
The biggest swing and miss of the night — and perhaps Buehler’s season — came in the second inning. With the Dodgers holding onto a 2-0 lead, Buehler’s command got him into trouble. He gave up a single and walked a pair to load up the bases with one out.
Buehler then responded by striking out Francisco Alvarez looking, setting up a marquee matchup against the Mets’ best hitter, Lindor. After working a 3-2 count, a packed Citi Field was ready to erupt. But this is exactly why the Dodgers saved Buehler for a road game. Those are the types of moments in which he has consistently risen to the occasion.
This one was no different, as Buehler turned to his curveball to get Lindor to swing over the top of it, ending the threat and keeping the Mets off the board. Buehler let out a couple of screams as he walked off the mound, a familiar October sight for the Dodgers.
“We talked about it before the San Diego start, the big games or me being in big games, that’s literally all I care about,” Buehler said. “The way Kiké talks about our team having some sort of confidence when I pitch, regardless, I think is kind of really the goal for any starting pitcher. There’s the stats and free agency and all this [stuff], but I want 25 guys in the locker room that believe I give us a really good chance to win.”
Buehler’s outing set the tone, but it was likely not as long as the right-hander would have liked, as L.A. had to lean on its bullpen for the last five innings of the game. With the way the club’s relievers have pitched this postseason, however, the Dodgers were more than okay with that plan.
As he has done throughout the postseason, manager Dave Roberts pieced things together perfectly. Kopech tossed a perfect fifth inning, handing it off to Ryan Brasier, who worked out of a jam by inducing a double play in the sixth. In the seventh, it was Blake Treinen’s turn to shut down the Mets’ lineup, striking out two. Ben Casparius handled the final two innings, recording three strikeouts.
“These guys are locked in,” Roberts said. “And they understand they have a job to do to prevent runs. And I think we’re playing good defense, too. That’s a big part of it, too.”
Another dominant pitching performance bought the Dodgers’ offense more than enough time to strike against the Mets’ staff. Los Angeles scored two runs in the second and then used homers from Hernández, Shohei Ohtani and Max Muncy to extend the lead.
Coming into the three games in New York, the Dodgers’ focus was on stealing back home-field advantage. It took nine innings for them to do just that. And they did it with the same formula they’re looking to ride for six more wins.
“I think the biggest thing is we have good attitudes in terms of how to handle the postseason atmosphere,” Muncy said. “We’ve got a lot of guys that are built for the moment, and you’ve seen it.”
