Dodgers Take Game 1
The Dodgers took the first game of the 2024 NLCS, 9-0, behind a dominant outing from Jack Flaherty, backed up by scoreless relief from Daniel Hudson and Ben Casparius to complete the shutout. Since the LCS moved to its current seven-game format in 1985,the winner of the first game of the NLCS has advanced to the Fall Classic 26 times (68.4%). That has been the case in two of the last three years (PHI in 2022 and ATL in 2021), eight of the last 11 seasons and in 22 of the last 29 years dating back to 1995.
The Dodgers are now 24-33 all-time in Game 1 of a Postseason Series, including 10-21 in Game 1 of a best-of-seven series overall, and 3-8 in Game 1 of the NLCS (since 1985). This marks Los Angeles’ first win in the opening game of the NLCS since they topped the Chicago Cubs in 2017. The only other time the Dodgers won Game 1 of the NLCS in its seven-game format was in 1985 over the St. Louis Cardinals.
The winner of Game 1 has won Game 2 of the NLCS in two of the last three seasons (2023 PHI and 2021 ATL). Since 1985, 14 clubs have advanced to the World Series after winning Games 1 and 2 of the NLCS, including the 2021 Braves; the 2019 Nationals (swept NLCS); the 2017 Dodgers; the 2015 Mets (swept NLCS); the 2013 Cardinals; the 2008 Phillies; the 2007 Rockies (swept NLCS); the 2004 Cardinals; the 2002 Giants; the 2000 Mets; the 1999 Braves; the 1998 Padres; the 1995 Braves (swept NLCS); and the 1992 Braves. Of the group, the 2021 Braves, 2019 Nationals, 2008 Phillies and 1995 Braves went on to win the World Series.
Flaming Flaherty
Jack Flaherty toed the rubber for Los Angeles, offering up 7.0 scoreless innings while permitting just two hits with two walks and six strikeouts. He finished his outing by retiring each of the last eight batters that he faced. The right-hander is the first Dodgers pitcher to throw at least 7.0 shutout innings in a Postseason game since Clayton Kershaw tossed 8.0 scoreless frames on October 1, 2020 in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series.
Flaherty, who is a native of Burbank, is the sixth California-born pitcher to start a NLCS game for the Dodgers, joining Joe Kelly (10/21/2021); Tony Gonsolin (10/13/2020); Ricky Nolasco (10/15/2013); Randy Wolf (10/19/2009); and Tim Leary (10/11/1988). Of the group, Flaherty is the only one to collect a win.
limiT The Damage
Flaherty helped push Los Angeles’ scoreless innings streak to 33.0 frames, tying the longest streak by a pitching staff within a single Postseason and the longest by a National League squad (h/t @SlangsOnSports and Elias). The Dodgers tied the 1966 Baltimore Orioles who threw 33.0 consecutive scoreless innings in Games 1-4 of the World Series, coincidentally against the Dodgers. The Dodgers entered the night with the fourth-longest streak in Postseason history and surpassed the 1905 New York Giants (28.0 IP, WS G 2-5) and the 1974 Oakland Athletics (30.0 IP, ALCS G 1-4).
The Dodgers allowed just three hits in tonight’s game, marking the second time this Postseason that Los Angeles limited its opponent to three-or-fewer hits. Overall, it was the 22nd time in Dodgers’ Postseason history that they allowed three-or-fewer hits. Prior to allowing a lead-off single to Jesse Winker in the fifth inning, the Dodgers combined to throw 10 consecutive hitless innings after holding the Padres hitless in the final six innings of Game 5 in the NLDS. After Winker’s single, Jose Iglesias followed up with a single before Francisco Alvarez collected New York’s last knock with a single in the eighth inning.
Los Angeles has allowed 12 hits over its last three games, marking the sixth time in Dodgers’ Postseason history that they have allowed 12-orfewer hits in a three-game stretch. Most recently it happened in 2017 when the pitching staff allowed just 12 hits across Games 4 (5 hits) and 5 (4 hits) of the NLCS and Game 1 (3 hits) of the World Series. Los Angeles accomplished the feat twice that October, yielding a franchise-low 10 hits across a three-game stretch in Game 3 of the NLDS (3 hits) and Games 1 (4 hits) and 2 (3 hits) of the NLCS.
BlankeD ‘em
The Dodgers threw their second shutout of the Postseason after blanking the Padres, 8-0, in Game 4 of the NLDS on Wednesday night. The 9-0 shutout win tonight marks Los Angeles’ largest Postseason shutout win in franchise history.
Los Angeles is the sixth team (eighth occurrence) to win by at least nine runs while throwing a shutout in the League Championship Series. They join the 2023 Phillies (10/17/2023, 10-0); the 2013 Cardinals (10/18/2013, 9-0); the 2012 Giants (10/22/2012, 9-0); the 2009 Phillies (10/18/2009, 11-0); the 1996 Braves (10/14/1996, 15-0 & 10/17/1996, 15-0); and the 1984 Cubs (10/2/1984, 13-0).
Overall, it was the 21st time in Postseason history that a team threw a shutout while winning by at least nine runs and the first time since the Phillies in last year’s NLCS.
Move The line
Each player in the Dodgers starting lineup safely reached base tonight, marking the first time every batter in Los Angeles’ starting lineup reached base in a Postseason game since October 12, 2022 (G2 NLDS). Additionally, Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández and Kiké Hernández each reached base safely twice in the game. It was the third time this Postseason that at least four Dodgers players reached base safely multiple times after six players did so in Game 1 and Game 6 of the NLDS.
Muncy gets the scoring started
Muncy opened the scoring with a two-out, two-run single in the first inning. In the regular season, the Dodgers were 68-15 when scoring first and are now 3-1 in the Postseason when scoring the game’s first run. After winning the opening game of 32 series in the regular season, 16 of which came at home, the Dodgers have now won the opening game in each of their Postseason series this year.
Shohei Ohtani knocked an RBI single in the second inning to bring Gavin Lux around to score and make it 3-0. He added an RBI double in the fourth inning as Los Angeles opened up a 6-0 lead, also getting RBI singles from Tommy Edman and Freddie Freeman. Leading 6-0 in the eighth inning, Mookie Betts closed the scoring with a three-run double.
Take a Walk
With a walk in the fourth inning, Francisco Lindor has now reached in all eight of New York’s Postseason games this year. He is the eighth Mets player to reach safely in at least eight consecutive games to begin a Postseason and the first to do so since Curtis Granderson and Daniel Murphy each reached in all 14 games of the Mets’ 2015 World Series run. Entering tonight, Brandon Nimmo had also reached safely in each of the Mets’ first seven Postseason games this year.
