Shohei Ohtani’s Three-Run Blast Powers Dodgers Past Mets in NLCS Game 3
The Los Angeles Dodgers have taken a commanding lead in the National League Championship Series after a dominant 8-0 victory over the New York Mets on October 16, 2024. The Dodgers showcased their resilience and pitching prowess, delivering their fourth shutout in five postseason games, and one of the key moments came when Shohei Ohtani crushed a three-run home run in the eighth inning.
This game wasn’t just about offense, though. The Dodgers' pitching staff, often questioned this postseason due to injuries and reliance on a patchwork rotation, rose to the occasion. Walker Buehler, despite a tough regular season, stepped up when it mattered most, holding the Mets scoreless for four innings. Michael Kopech, Ryan Brasier, Blake Treinen, and rookie Ben Casparius followed with shutdown relief performances, keeping the Mets’ bats in check for the remainder of the game.
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The real fireworks came late in the game. After Enrique Hernández extended the Dodgers’ lead to 4-0 with a two-run homer in the sixth inning, Ohtani took center stage in the eighth. Facing an 89-mph cutter from Mets pitcher Tylor Megill, Ohtani launched a towering home run to right field with an exit velocity of 115.9 mph and a launch angle of 37 degrees. The ball traveled an impressive 397 feet, sealing the Mets' fate and giving the Dodgers an insurmountable 7-0 lead.
Max Muncy added a solo shot in the ninth, tying the Dodgers’ franchise record with his 13th postseason home run. This offensive surge, paired with the airtight pitching, left the Mets searching for answers as they managed only four hits and no extra-base hits during the game.
The Mets had their best chance in the second inning, loading the bases with just one out, but Buehler rose to the challenge. He struck out Francisco Alvarez with a 94-mph fastball, followed by a curveball to catch Francisco Lindor looking, shutting down their rally. After that, the Mets couldn’t recover.
As the Dodgers now hold a 2-1 series lead, they are halfway to the World Series. Their unconventional strategy, leaning heavily on bullpen games, has paid off. With the offense firing on all cylinders and the pitching staff delivering, the Dodgers are proving doubters wrong in spectacular fashion.
For the Mets, time is running out. As manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged, the team is creating opportunities but failing to deliver key hits. With the Dodgers surging, the Mets must regroup quickly to avoid a postseason exit.
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