NEW YORK – Freddie Freeman usually bats behind Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup.
But with Freeman on the bench due to a right ankle injury Thursday night, he got to admire his teammates from a different vantage point as the hard-hitting duo moved the Dodgers to the edge of the World Series.
Ohtani homered on the second pitch of the game and Betts had four hits – including a homer – and four RBIs for the Dodgers, who took control of the National League Championship Series with a 10-2 win over the New York Mets in Game 4.
The Dodgers lead the best-of-seven series 3-1 and will attempt to clinch the pennant and a trip to the World Series on Friday afternoon, when the teams are scheduled to play Game 5 in New York.
“To be one game away – we’re really excited,” said Dodgers shortstop Tommy Edman, who was 2-for-6 with three RBIs. “We’ve got to concentrate one game at a time, but we’re close. We can feel it, for sure.”
The Mets, who will be playing an elimination game for the second time this month, have been outscored 30-9 in the NLCS.
“If you have no belief, you shouldn’t be here — you’ve got to believe and fight for what you want,” Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor said. “We have an amazing opportunity and that’s winning a big-league game in the National League Championship Series. We’ve got to come out, we’ve got to execute and we’ve got to play the game better than they do.”
Following his 422-foot leadoff homer to right, likely NL MVP Ohtani saw just 14 pitches while walking in each of his next three plate appearances — all of which led to rally-extending hits by Betts, the former AL MVP.
“I know there was a stretch there for, like, two or three at-bats, I don’t think he saw a pitch remotely close, which I understand,” Betts said. “But it’s going to be tough to just walk him all the time.
“We’ll see. If they want to continue to do it, that’s OK. I just need to make sure I take care of my job.”
Betts singled and later scored the final run of a two-run third-inning rally before lacing a two-run double in the fourth to extend the Dodgers’ lead to 5-2. He added insurance in the sixth, when Betts greeted Phil Maton with a two-run homer to left.
“It’s just so tough for starting pitchers right out of the gate – you’re pitching to Hall of Famers,” said Freeman, who said he expects to play Friday. “I can’t even hit the ball that hard with an aluminum bat and Shohei is doing it (with a wood bat). It’s amazing, especially with the way they’re swinging as good as they are right now. It’s fun to hit behind them.”
Edman put the Dodgers ahead for good with a two-out RBI double in the third. Enrique Hernandez followed with a run-scoring single. Edman hit a two-run double in the eighth before Will Smith added an RBI single.
“It’s a deep lineup, but the biggest thing is they’re going to force you in the zone – they’re not going to chase,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “When you do come in the zone, you have to execute. Because if not, they’re going to make you pay.”
Max Muncy, who started at first base for Freeman, walked in his first three plate appearances before singling in the seventh. It was the 12th straight plate appearance in which he reached base, tying Reggie Jackson’s postseason record. Muncy struck out in the eighth.
“I definitely wasn’t aware of it, but it’s obviously really cool,” Muncy said of tying Jackson. “For me, the most important thing is that means I’m getting on base, giving my teammates a chance to drive me in, creating havoc, doing anything I can.”
Evan Phillips (2-0), the second of four Dodgers pitchers, earned the win by tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings. He relieved starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who gave up two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out eight over 4 1/3 innings.
Mark Vientos homered in the first inning and Brandon Nimmo legged out the back end of a potential double-play grounder to drive in a third-inning run for the Mets, who finished 4-for-22 with runners on base and left the bases loaded twice.
Jose Quintana (0-1) took the loss after allowing five runs on five hits and four walks over 3 1/3 innings. He struck out two.
–Jerry Beach, Field Level Media
