The Los Angeles Dodgers surged ahead in the National League Championship Series (NLCS) with a commanding 8-0 victory over the New York Mets in Game 3 on Wednesday. Behind a combined shutout from Walker Buehler and the bullpen, as well as home runs from Shohei Ohtani, Kiké Hernández, and Max Muncy, the Dodgers regained control of the series and now lead 2-1.
Buehler’s Strong but Short Start
Walker Buehler, although not at his most efficient, delivered when it mattered. He threw 90 pitches across four innings, racking up 18 swinging strikes and holding the Mets scoreless. Though he exited after four frames, the Dodgers bullpen continued their recent dominance, completing their fourth shutout in five games.
Ohtani’s Game-Changing Homer
Shohei Ohtani delivered the game’s defining blow in the eighth inning, crushing a three-run homer that put the Dodgers up 7-0 and sealed the Mets’ fate. While Ohtani has struggled with the bases empty during this postseason (0-for-22 with 11 strikeouts), he has been unstoppable with runners on base, going 7-for-9 with two homers in those situations. His timely blast allowed the Dodgers to rest their top late-inning relievers for the remainder of the game.
Early and Late Offense
The Dodgers set the tone with a two-run rally in the second inning, and their bats came alive again in the eighth. Alongside Ohtani, Kiké Hernández and Max Muncy contributed homers. Hernández’s 15th career postseason homer tied him for 18th all-time in MLB history, while Muncy’s 13th postseason shot placed him in a tie with Corey Seager and Justin Turner for the Dodgers’ franchise record.
Mets Look to Bounce Back in Game 4
The Mets will aim to even the series in Game 4 on Thursday. Jose Quintana will take the mound for New York, while the Dodgers will counter with Yoshinobu Yamamoto. First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET at Citi Field.
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