Instant analysis: Mets return to Citi Field a dud, as Dodgers dominate for Game 3 win

NEW YORK – The Mets’ homecoming in the National League Championship Series was not what they had in mind.

After returning to New York with the series tied, the Mets could not curb the Dodgers offense and came up empty on their own.

The result was a discouraging one for the Mets, who were shut out for the second time in the series in a 8-0 loss to the Dodgers in front of a sold-out crowd of 43,883 fans on Wednesday night at Citi Field.

After falling behind by two runs in the second inning, the Mets’ chances unraveled with a two-run home run by Kike Hernandez in the sixth inning and three-run blast by Shohei Ohtani in the eighth.

The Mets now trail the Dodgers in the NLCS, 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for 8:08 p.m. on Thursday at Citi Field.

Here are the updates and analysis from NLCS Game 3 between the Mets and Dodgers:

Tylor Megill surrenders second home run of night to Max Muncy

The Mets needed Tylor Megill to eat innings for them in Game 3, but it did not go well for the starter-turned-reliever.

After giving up a three-run home run to Shohei Ohtani in the eighth inning, Max Muncy ripped a belt-high cutter into the second deck in right field to grow the Dodgers' lead to 8-0.

Shohei Ohtani demolishes first home run of NLCS in eighth inning

Shohei Ohtani had been quiet through seven innings on Wednesday night.

Ohtani was 0-for-3 with a walk in his first four plate appearances. But given a chance to drive in some runs in the eighth inning, Ohtani did not miss. With two runners on base against Tylor Megill, Ohtani pummeled an inside cutter over the right-field foul pole to give the Dodgers a 7-0 lead over the Mets.

Mets rally ends on Jose Iglesias double play

The Mets had two runners on base against Dodgers reliever Ryan Brasier in the bottom of the sixth inning after Starling Marte singled and J.D. Martinez drew a walk. But Jose Iglesias rolled over an inside sinker to Max Muncy at third base to jump-start an inning-ending double play.

The Dodgers lead 4-0 after six innings.

Kiké Hernandez doubles Dodgers' lead off Reed Garrett

Reed Garrett was one out away from tossing a perfect sixth inning, but he could not complete the task.

Tommy Edman singled into right field and Kike Hernandez pulled a hanging splitter over the left-field wall to give the Dodgers a 4-0 lead after six innings.

Short nights for Walker Buehler, Luis Severino

Walker Buehler only last four innings for the Dodgers, working around three hits and two walks while striking out six Mets batters. He threw 90 pitches, including 18 whiffs to drive up his pitch count.

Luis Severino was removed after giving up a two-out single to Freddie Freeman and walking Max Muncy in the fifth. He finished with 4⅔ innings with two (no earned) runs allowed on three hits and four walks while striking out three.

Francisco Lindor robs Mookie Betts of a hit with a slick sliding play

With one out in the top of the fifth inning, Francisco Lindor, a recent snub as a Gold Glove finalist, went sliding to his right to stab a ground ball off the bat of Mookie Betts and stave off a potential hit.

Luis Severino strands bases loaded

After working a perfect 1-2-3 first inning against the top of the Dodgers' lineup, Luis Severino had to work through that portion of the order in the third.

Severino walked Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts and gave up a one-out single to Max Muncy. But with the bases loaded, the Mets righty got Tesocar Hernandez to line out to third and Gavin Lux to ground out to the mound.

Severino is at 66 pitches through three innings, with the Dodgers leading 2-0.

Francisco Alvarez, Francisco Lindor strike out with the bases loaded

The Mets had their first major chance to get back against Walker Buehler in the bottom of the second.

With one out, J.D. Martinez walked, Jose Iglesias singled on a grounder that was bobbled by Tommy Edman and Tyrone Taylor walked to load the bases. But Francisco Alvarez was frozen on an outside fastball and Francisco Lindor swung through a high fastball.

The Dodgers maintain a 2-0 lead after two innings.

Dodgers punch through for two runs in second

The ball had not left the infield but the Dodgers manufactured a run against Luis Severino in the second inning.

Max Muncy drew a leadoff walk and then reached second on a swinging bunt by Teoscar Hernandez as Francisco Alvarez failed to make the out at second. Then after the runners moved over on a ground ball, the first run scored when Will Smith shot a ground ball up the middle that bounced in and out of Severino's glove.

Then, Tommy Edman shot a deep fly ball into the right-center field gap that Tyrone Taylor sprawled out to catch while sliding past Starling Marte . It went down as a sacrifice fly to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.

Mets announce NLCS Game 3 lineup

Dodgers announce NLCS Game 3 lineup

What channel is NY Mets vs LA Dodgers Game 3 on today? Time, TV schedule

TV: FS1

NY Mets vs Dodgers Game 3 time today

• Date: Wednesday, Oct. 16
• Start time: 8:08 p.m.
• Location: Citi Field, New York

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Instant analysis: Mets return to Citi Field a dud, as Dodgers dominate for Game 3 win