The Mets score first in the NLCS as deep Dodgers shut them out in Game 1

LOS ANGELES — Mark Vientos’ bat spun like the blade of a helicopter after the Mets’ third baseman tossed it into his dugout. He had just struck out for the third time, becoming the latest example of a Mets player unable to get things going for his team, which was losing 6-0 in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the NL Championship Series.

Vientos’ offense was representative of the Mets all night long – including their pitchers. On Sunday they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. That’s what the scoreboard showed: The Mets lost 9-0 in the opening game of the best-of-seven series in front of 53,503 fans at Dodger Stadium.

With this result they are entering unknown territory. After losing Game 1 of the NLCS, the Mets trail their opponent for the first time in a row this postseason.

The Mets immediately got off to a bad start. Starter Kodai Senga lasted 1 1/3 innings, giving up three earned runs on two hits and four walks. He struggled to find the strike zone after striking out the leadoff batter. Senga walked the next three batters and set up a two-out, two-run single by Max Muncy that gave the Dodgers an early 2-0 lead.

Senga didn’t master his best pitch, the forkball, and struck out three in the first inning alone. His fastball velocity was also down, averaging 93.5 mph, down from his 95.7 mph last season.

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Senga has had difficulty starting games in the past. In 30 first innings, he allowed 17 runs for a 4.20 ERA, the highest of all innings.

This was also true in his first postseason start against the Phillies, when he allowed a home run to Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber in Game 1 of the NL Division Series. Senga settled down after Schwarber in this game and did not allow a hit to the next seven batters he faced.

The same cannot be said in Game 1 of the NLCS, where he was even penalized with a ball after violating the pitch clock in the second inning. In the end, Senga left the game with the Mets trailing 3-0. For the first time in his big league career, he did not record a strikeout.

The Dodgers scored three more runs in the fourth against left-hander David Peterson, who allowed four hits in that inning, including a run-scoring single by Shohei Ohtani.

In the eighth inning, Los Angeles added another three runs after Mookie Bets hit a three-run base-clearing double against Mets reliever José Buttó, who had struggled in the postseason. He has four runs in 4 2/3 innings (8.57 ERA) in four appearances.

The Mets’ batters couldn’t deal with Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty, who shut them out for seven innings. He allowed two hits and two walks and struck out six.

New York missed a big opportunity in the fourth inning. At that point, Flaherty allowed his first two baserunners, both via walks. None of these runners would come by to score.

They missed another chance in the fifth inning. After leading off the inning with a single, Jesse Winker was thrown out on a single by Jose Iglesias at third base.

Winker read the ball well and had third base in his sights after Iglesias hit. But center fielder Kike Hernández pretended to throw to third base, forcing Winker to stop as the throw went to second base. Second baseman Gavin Lux quickly realized he had Winker and threw a pitch to third to put him out.

Flaherty handed the ball off to the bullpen, who threw two more scoreless innings to secure Game 1.

The Mets are still in a good position to secure home-field advantage. A win in Game 2 on Monday sends them back home with a chance to win at Citi Field, where they would play three straight games.

The Mets will start Sean Manaea while the Dodgers will use a bullpen game on Monday.

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Manny Gómez can be reached at [email protected].