Instant analysis: Kodai Senga struggles, Mets shut out by Dodgers, 9-0, in NLCS Game 1

LOS ANGELES — The Mets were in a hole before they had even gotten settled at Dodger Stadium on Sunday night.

Kodai Senga was ready to go as long as Carlos Mendoza would let him in his second start off the 60-day injured list. It turned out that Senga was his own worst enemy in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.

Senga could only record four outs and gave up three earned runs as the Mets sputtered to a 9-0 loss against the Dodgers in front of 53,503 fans in the opening game of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium.

With Senga’s control putting the Mets behind, Mendoza used four different Mets relievers to record the final 20 outs. The Dodgers also pushed across three more runs off David Peterson in the fourth inning and three off Jose Butto in the eighth.

Meanwhile, the Mets offense stumbled out of the gate in their first NLCS game since 2015. Jack Flaherty held the Mets without a hit for the opening four innings and went on to complete seven scoreless innings with six strikeouts and two hits and two walks allowed.

The Mets, who have had a penchant for the dramatic comeback in the 2024 playoffs, could not dig out from underneath an early deficit in Game 1.

Watch Mets vs. Dodgers live on Fubo

With the Dodgers rolling to a Game 1 win in the NLCS, here are live updates and analysis from their victory over the Mets:

Mookie Betts rips game open with three-run double

Every former National League MVP has now gotten in on the act driving in runs for the Dodgers in Game 1.

With the bases loaded and one out against Jose Butto, Mookie Betts knocked a sharp ground ball past a diving Mark Vientos at third base that allowed three runs to score and boost the Dodgers ahead 9-0. The Dodgers were aided in the inning by an error by Pete Alonso, who threw high to second base with a runner on first in the beginning of the frame.

Jack Flaherty shuts down the Mets across seven innings

After falling behind by six runs through four innings, the Mets were not able to mount any response against the Dodgers' Jack Flaherty.

Flaherty finished with seven scoreless innings, with two hits and two walks allowed while striking out six Mets batters. He retired the final eight batters he faced.

Jesse Winker's baserunning gaffe costs Mets potential run

Jesse Winker picked up the Mets' first hit of the game against the Dodgers' Jack Flaherty to lead off the top of the fifth inning.

But Winker ran into trouble on a bloop single into center field as he rounded second base and stopped as Kike Hernandez fielded a looping single from Jose Iglesias. Hernandez's throw went to second and Winker was caught in between the bases and thrown out at third. The Mets were held scoreless after back-to-back fly balls and trail the Dodgers 6-0.

Dodgers keep adding on against David Peterson

Shohei Ohtani is making his impact felt in Game 1.

After poking an RBI single in the second inning to run the Mets' Kodai Senga from the game, Ohtani helped tack on a run by tagging a hanging curveball from David Peterson off the wall. Tommy Edman scored on a bobble by Starilng Marte.

Ohtani would score two batters later on a two-out RBI single from Freddie Freeman to build the Dodgers advantage to 6-0.

Edman also added his own RBI single in the frame as part of a four-hit rally against Peterson.

Jack Flaherty makes perfect first turn through Mets lineup

In his first postseason start of 2024 against the Padres, Jack Flaherty gave up three earned runs in the first two innings. Flaherty cleaned up his open against the Mets, using 46 pitches to send down the first nine Mets batters in order. He struck out four batters through the first run through the Mets lineup.

The Dodgers lead the Mets, 3-0, midway through the third inning.

Carlos Mendoza removes Kodai Senga after four outs

The Mets were hoping that Kodai Senga would be able to pitch three innings in his second start back from injury. Senga struggled mightily with his control and only lasted 1⅓ innings against the Dodgers.

Shohei Ohtani tagged Senga for an RBI single after the Mets righty issued his fourth walk of the game to build the Dodgers' lead to 3-0. That's when Mendoza turned to Reed Garrett to record the final two outs. Ohtani was caught stealing for the final out of the second.

Kodai Senga struggles with command, tagged for two runs in first

After picking up a ground-ball out from Shohei Ohtani, the Mets' Kodai Senga struggled to find the strike zone and walked three straight batters. The Dodgers made him pay as Max Muncy looped in a two-run single to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Senga only threw three strikes in his first 16 pitches.

Mets announce Game 1 lineup for NLCS

Dodgers announce Game 1 lineup for the NLCS

How to watch Game 1 of Mets vs. Dodgers

Time: 8:15 p.m.

Channel: Fox

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Instant analysis: Kodai Senga struggles, Mets shut out by Dodgers, 9-0, in NLCS Game 1