The Los Angeles Dodgers are inching nearer to ending the New York Mets’ magical postseason run and are simply two wins away from advancing to the World Sequence.
On Wednesday, Los Angeles silenced the Mets en path to an 8-0 street win in Recreation 3 of the Nationwide League Championship Sequence. The Dodgers, now up 2-1 within the best-of-seven collection, will look to push New York to the brink of elimination throughout Recreation 4, scheduled for Thursday at 8:08 p.m. ET on Fox Sports activities 1.
Listed here are three takeaways from Los Angeles’ dominant victory:
Dodgers’ Walker Buehler bends however doesn’t break
Buehler was disappointing in Los Angeles’ NLDS Recreation 3 loss to the Padres, his first begin of the 2024 postseason, permitting six runs on seven hits with one stroll and no strikeouts in 5 innings. Whereas he could not present a lot size, Buehler rebounded on Wednesday, giving the Dodgers precisely what they wanted.
The 2-time All-Star gave up three hits and issued two walks in 4 innings however did not permit a run whereas racking up six strikeouts. The Mets hitters could not determine Buehler’s offspeed pitches, which performed a key function within the right-hander producing a season-high 18 swings and misses within the contest.
Even so, it wasn’t easy crusing for Buehler the complete sport. After putting out two batters within the first inning, Buehler bumped into bother within the second. Buehler acquired his first batter within the body, Mets outfielder Starling Marte, to floor out however shortly loaded the bases, strolling DH J.D. Martinez earlier than permitting an infield single to Jose Iglesias and one other stroll to outfielder Tyrone Taylor.
However, Buehler dug deep, putting out his subsequent two batters to finish the inning, although there was extra visitors on the bottom paths within the third inning, permitting two baserunners. Nonetheless, he picked up one other essential strikeout to get out of one other ham unscathed.
It stays to be seen when Buehler will make his subsequent begin, as he’d most certainly begin a winner-takes-all Recreation 7 if the NLCS will get to that time or Recreation 1 of the World Sequence. Both manner, the Dodgers ought to really feel assured the subsequent time Buehler takes the mound following his gutsy Recreation 3 efficiency.
Enrique Hernandez and Shohei Ohtani homers put the sport away
Regardless of scoring two runs within the second inning, the Dodgers have been looking for an enormous hit for an excellent portion of Recreation 3 earlier than they acquired what felt just like the dagger within the sixth inning.
After utilityman Tommy Edman reached base on a two-out single and superior to second on a Reed Garrett balk, Hernandez, who hit a pivotal go-ahead house run in Recreation 5 of the NLDS, delivered one other memorable blast. On the sixth pitch of the at-bat, Hernandez drove a Garrett splitter 378 ft over the left-center discipline fence for a two-run homer to double Los Angeles’ lead.
