Ohtani UNLEASHES Fury on Mets in Blowout NLCS Win!

NEW YORK (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers continue their quest for a spot in the World Series, thanks to a dominating performance in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series. Shohei Ohtani led the charge, launching a three-run home run that punctuated the Dodgers' 8-0 shutout victory over the New York Mets on Wednesday night.

The win gives the Dodgers a crucial 2-1 lead in the series, putting the pressure on the Mets to bounce back in Game 4. The sold-out crowd at Citi Field was electric early on, but the Dodgers quickly silenced them with a string of timely hits and stellar defense.

Ohtani, who has been a force to be reckoned with all postseason, delivered the knockout blow in the top of the fifth inning. With two runners on and one out, Ohtani stepped up to the plate and sent a 3-1 fastball soaring into the left-field seats for a three-run homer. The blast marked his second home run of the series and gave the Dodgers a commanding 5-0 lead.

The Dodgers' pitching staff took care of the rest, combining for a five-hit shutout. The Mets struggled to get anything going, managing just three hits through the first six innings. Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw set the tone early, yielding just two hits over five scoreless frames to earn the win.

The Mets' best chance to score came in the bottom of the eighth, when they loaded the bases with two outs. However, Dodgers reliever Chris Martin induced a groundout to end the threat and preserve the shutout. The Dodgers added three more runs in the top of the ninth to seal the win.

The Mets will look to even the series in Game 4, scheduled for Thursday night at Citi Field. They'll need to regroup and find a way to contain the Dodgers' potent offense, which has now scored 15 runs in the last two games. As for the Dodgers, they'll look to keep their momentum going and move one step closer to their first World Series appearance since 2020.