Shohei Ohtani shouts after scoring on a double by Mookie Betts in the seventh inning of Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers cruised to a 9-0 victory, only to see the Mets return the favor on Monday with a 7-3 win. The best-of-seven series shifts to New York tonight for the next three games, and if necessary, would return to L.A. Oct. 20.
The battle for the pennant moves to New York after the Dodgers and Mets trade punches in Games 1 and 2.
By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS
RAFU SPORTS EDITOR
Perhaps we’re spoiled. We have come to expect baseball deep into October, and the Dodgers have been all too happy to oblige, year after year for most of the last couple of decades.
Taking the spoils of the postseason for granted has not, however, dampened the enthusiasm of the fans, who turned out last weekend, ready and rabid, for the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets.
Prior to Game 1 on Sunday, many had the Dodgers favored to win the series and booked their ticket to the World Series in search repeating their championship of 2020.
Those predictions seemed to be-gin playing out in the opener, as the Dodgers scored early and often en route to a 9-0 drubbing of the Mets.
The Mets’ Kogai Senga, making his second playoff start after missing virtually the entire regular season with shoulder and calf injuries, struggled from the outset. After retiring leadoff batter Shohei Ohtani in the first inning, Senga walked the bases loaded before giving up a two-run single to Max Muncy.
Senga was pulled from the game just one out into the second after facing only 10 betters and allowing three runs.
“There were a lot of factors, errors with my mechanics,” Senga said after taking the loss. “That was the major problem.
“It’s something I noticed early, but I wasn’t able to make the adjust-ments,” he explained. “I’m disappointed in myself, and I was really disappointed I let the team down.”
Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI and scored twice in the game, despite being thrown out steal-ing after he overslid second base.
“A fat pitch came my way and it was a good at-bat,” Ohtani said about his double in the fourth inning. “The trajectory was a bit low and I was wondering if it would clear the right fielder, but thankfully it did.”
Jack Flaherty turned in a brilliant start for the Dodgers, striking out six Mets and giving up just two hits with two walks over seven innings, and providing some welcomed rest to the relief corps.
“It was just a pitching clinic,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the win. “I thought he did a great job of filling up the strike zone with his complete mix. Used his fastball when he needed to. Just minimized damage.
“And once we caught a lead, he did a great job of just going after those guys and attacking. And for us to get seven innings in a long series was huge.”
Roberts was also asked about how effective Ohtani has been in the post-season, notably with runners on base.
“We’re better when we get guys on with Shohei up to bat. Obviously, when guys are in scoring position there might be a little bit more focus,” Roberts said.
“I think right now he’s in a good spot. Like I said that last series, I thought he chased it a little bit, but I think tonight he got back into his hitting zone and some good things happened. And even one of his outs was close to being a homer.”
Senga said he feels 100 percent physically and will be ready to pitch again when needed.
“I’ll reflect on today and make a plan for my next outing.”
The Mets appeared to have made adjustments for Game 2 on Monday, taking advantage of a bullpen game strategy that had worked brilliantly for the Dodgers in the NL Division Series against San Diego.
After tying the record for scoreless innings in the postseason at 33, Dodgers opener Ryan Brasier served up a home run on the eighth pitch of the game to Francisco Lindor.
In the second, Landon Knack got into trouble almost immediately, culminating with giving up a grand slam to Mark Vientos.
Mets left-hander Sean Manaea was effective if not overpowering, stifling the Dodgers offense at the right times as New York scored a 7-3 victory.
Ohtani struck out twice and was 0-for-3 with two walks.
“I thought he didn’t look comfort-able versus Manaea,” Roberts said of Ohtani’s at-bats. “You can see he was just kind of trying to keep the ball away from Shohei.
“That’s what they’re going to do. Shohei is very good with the ball close to him. So they’re just going to stay away, hard away. If it’s spin, it’s going to be away. After that I thought the righties that came in, they weren’t about to give in to him. And at least he took his walks.”
Tommy Edman had three of the Dodgers’ five hits including a two-run single in the sixth inning.
With Walker Buehler set to start for the Dodgers in Game 3, and Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto available to begin the following two, Roberts said he wasn’t sure if he would need to plan another bullgame strategy for Game 6, which would be at Dodger Stadium if necessary.
“It all is great when it works well and guys are throwing up zeros, but you’re still facing really good ball clubs,” he explained. “There is a margin that you have to guard against and kind of really appreciate the cost of the next games, and not forgetting that this isn’t a winner-take-all game. It’s not a three-game series.
“When you’re on the margins and you lose a couple guys and guys aren’t available, you’ve got to figure out how to get out somehow.”