The Los Angeles Dodgers dominated the Mets with a resounding 10-2 victory on Thursday night. Throughout the series, the Dodgers have been remarkable, racking up an impressive 31 total bases on balls in the first four games, setting a new record for the postseason. The Mets, once considered potential contenders, now face the harsh reality of being one loss away from being eliminated in the National League Championship with a 3-1 deficit in this best-of-seven series.
One Step Closer to the World Series
With this victory, the Dodgers are now just one win away from securing their place in the World Series. They await the outcome of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians to determine their opponent. Despite having a solid regular season, where they finished with a 67-40 record, the Mets find themselves in desperate need of a turnaround.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza emphasized his team's resilience, saying they have fought all year and will continue to do so despite the current challenge.
The Mets have struggled to keep pace with the Dodgers, who have shown their dominance. Mookie Betts was the standout player with an impressive performance: 4 hits in 6 at-bats, including a home run and four RBIs. Shohei Ohtani broke a negative hitless streak (0-for-22) with a leadoff home run, while Max Muncy made history by reaching base 12 consecutive times, setting another record for the postseason.
The Dodgers have not only been strong offensively but also on the mound. Their pitchers have limited the Mets' scoring opportunities while their patience at the plate has led to an incredibly high number of base on balls. Mendoza acknowledged this and noted that their ability to control the strike zone is what makes them so effective offensively.
9 years ago, #CristianoRonaldo scored his 324th goal for #RealMadrid, becoming the top scorer in the club's history 👑🔥.
And he didn't stop there, as he scored 126 more goals! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/EnMowdiHyq
- Betcris (@Betcris) October 18, 2024
Outstanding Pitcher Performance
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers starter, struck out eight batters over 4⅓ innings before the bullpen took over and continued to dominate. The Mets had hoped to rely on their starting rotation but their pitchers have faltered. Jose Quintana, one of their best pitchers in recent months, couldn't get through more than 3⅔ innings Thursday allowing five runs.
As the game progressed, the Dodgers widened the gap even further; Tommy Edman hit a two-run double in the eighth inning and Will Smith added a run-producing single to make the final score 10-2.
Reflecting on their past postseason struggles, the Dodgers have learned that teams that advance to the World Series tend to be more aggressive hitters. Max Muncy underscored this point by noting that those teams that hit more freely seem to find greater success; being overly disciplined can prove to be a disadvantage.
