Dodgers finish off Mets with a 10-5 win in NLCS Game 6, propelling Shohei Ohtani into the World Series for the first time in his career. The Los Angeles Dodgers secured their victory on Sunday night, eliminating the New York Mets and marking a significant milestone in their postseason journey.
With this win, the Dodgers clinched their record 25th National League pennant, celebrating their first championship at home since 1988. This victory also sets the stage for their 22nd World Series appearance, the 13th in Los Angeles, and their first since defeating Tampa Bay in the pandemic-affected 2020 season.
Next on the horizon for Ohtani and his teammates is a showdown against Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees, who are making their return to the World Series for the 41st time and the first in 15 years. Game 1 is scheduled for Friday at Dodger Stadium, featuring the league’s leading home-run hitters: Judge with 58 and Ohtani with 54.
“It’s kind of what the people wanted, what we all wanted,” Dodgers star Mookie Betts shared with FOX Sports’ Tom Verducci. “It’s going to be a battle of two good teams, a lot of long flights across the country.”
This matchup marks the 12th World Series clash between these iconic franchises, the first in 43 years. Historically, the Yankees have bested the Dodgers eight times, while the Dodgers secured their three championships against New York in 1955, 1963, and 1981.
“It’s the place that I’ve dreamt of playing all my life,” Ohtani expressed through a translator. “To finally be at this stage and have the opportunity to play and hopefully win is my next goal.”
In his first season with the Dodgers, Ohtani showcased his talent by recording two hits and scoring two runs in Game 6. Throughout the NLCS, he maintained a .364 batting average, hitting two home runs and driving in six runs.
This performance stands out, especially considering it is his first postseason experience after six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, where he did not witness a winning record or playoff berth.
Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen made a strong impact by striking out Brandon Nimmo, Mark Vientos, and Pete Alonso in the eighth inning during his first two-inning outing since the 2021 NLCS.
The Dodgers initially faced a 1-0 deficit before Edman delivered a pivotal performance. He contributed to the Dodgers’ scoring by driving in their first four runs, tying the franchise record for RBIs in the NLCS with 11, previously set by Corey Seager in 2020. Edman, who was named NLCS MVP, joined the Dodgers at the July trade deadline from St. Louis.
The Dodgers eliminated the Mets on their second attempt in the series, outscoring New York 40-26 across the six games, with none being particularly close, including two shutouts.
Despite a rocky start with a 22-33 record, the Mets fought hard to reach this point.
The Dodgers took the lead 2-1 in the first inning when Edman hit a double into the left-field corner, allowing Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández to score after both singled. Hernández ended a challenging 0-for-18 slump in the NLCS. Manaea, the Mets’ pitcher, struggled, needing 34 pitches to complete the first inning.
In the third inning, Edman hit a 406-foot home run to left-center, extending the Dodgers’ lead. Following a walk to Max Muncy, Will Smith added a 416-foot homer to center off Phil Maton, pushing the score to 6-1.
The Mets managed to cut the deficit to 6-3 in the fourth inning when Vientos hit a two-run homer, his fifth of the postseason, off Ryan Brasier. Vientos had previously made headlines with a grand slam that helped the Mets tie the series in Game 2.
New York had two opportunities with the bases loaded but failed to capitalize. In the sixth inning, Jesse Winker flied out against Evan Phillips, ending the inning and the Mets’ hopes of a comeback.
Michael Kopech started the bullpen game for the Dodgers, marking his first career playoff start. He walked Francisco Lindor and threw a wild pitch before allowing a two-strike flare from Alonso to score Lindor due to a throwing error from Chris Taylor.
The Dodgers utilized seven pitchers to secure the win, overcoming injuries that had affected their starting rotation. The Mets, with the highest payroll in baseball at $332 million, faced a disappointing exit.
Manaea struggled, lasting only two innings while giving up five runs and six hits. His earlier success against the Dodgers in Game 2 was nowhere to be found on Sunday.
Alonso contributed two hits and drove in a run, possibly in his final game for the Mets, as he is set to enter free agency after the World Series.
The Dodgers, who faced early postseason exits in the last two years, invested heavily last winter, totaling $1 billion to sign Ohtani and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, aiming for the franchise’s eighth World Series title.
The sellout crowd of 52,674 included celebrities such as Tom Hanks, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Magic Johnson, Rob Lowe, Josh Groban, Jenny McCarthy, and Vanessa Bryant.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman was absent for the third time in the postseason due to a sprained right ankle, having also missed Game 4 of both the NLCS and NLDS.
