The Los Angeles Dodgers have a 3-1 lead in the NLCS after a show of force in Game 4, with their offense knocking around the New York Mets pitching staff early and often in a 10-2 win.
Shohei Ohtani provided a sign of things to come with a leadoff homer in the first inning, his first all postseason with the bases empty. The Dodgers added multiple runs to their lead in the third inning, then the fourth inning, then the sixth inning, then the eighth inning. Their offense was relentless and exacting, drawing nine walks, plus a hit-by-pitch from a Mets staff that could be starting to feel the short starts from their rotation.
Mets reliever Danny Young threw a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth frame. It was New York’s first clean inning since the fourth inning of Game 3.
Meanwhile, Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed two earned runs in 4 1/3 innings of work while striking out eight. The bullpen took over from there and didn’t allow a run, though Evan Phillips and Blake Treinen both ran into some rare trouble during their outings.
The end result is a dire situation for the Mets, who will enter Game 5 with few good starting pitching options after Kodai Senga’s rough Game 1. Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters following the game that David Peterson will get the start, after working out of the bullpen all postseason.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers will be starting Jack Flaherty, who threw seven scoreless innings in Game 1. They will be heavily favored in Game 5, currently scheduled for Friday at 5:08 p.m. at Citi Field (Fox Sports 1).
Here’s how it all went down at Yahoo Sports:
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