Instant analysis: Mets' backs to the wall after dropping another NLCS home game to Dodgers

NEW YORK – The Mets season is teetering on the verge of an agonizing end.

For all of the theatrics that the Mets have pulled over the last two weeks to reach the National League Championship Series, the Dodgers have cast a shadow on that dream run.

The stretch of unbalanced losses by the Mets continued in Game 4 on Thursday night.

The Mets conceded 12 hits, walked nine batters and left 12 runners on base as they were flattened by the Dodgers, 10-2, in front of a sold-out crowd of 43,882 at Citi Field.

With the loss, the Mets moved within one loss of elimination, with Game 5 slated for 5:08 p.m. Friday at Citi Field.

There was a little bit more to cheer about following an 8-0 shutout loss on Wednesday, but not much.

In the first inning, Shohei Ohtani opened with a leadoff home run for the Dodgers, and Mark Vientos answered for the Mets with a home run of his own. But the Dodgers’ pressure mounted throughout the game and pushed the Mets to the brink.

The Dodgers jumped ahead 3-1 in the third inning with an RBI double by Tommy Edman and RBI single by Kike Hernandez and never looked back. Mookie Betts added a two-run home run in the sixth inning and the Dodgers broke away with three runs in the eighth.

Meanwhile, the Mets were 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. In their three losses this series, the Mets have been outscored 27-2.

Here are all of the updates and live analysis from the Mets' NLCS Game 4 loss to the Dodgers:

Dodgers' onslaught continues against Danny Young

The Dodgers continued to tear up the Mets' bullpen in the top of the eighth inning.

With Danny Young on the mound for the Mets, Tommy Edman ripped a two-run double down the left-field line. Then, Will Smith added an RBI single to grow the Dodgers' advantage to 10-2.

The Dodgers have now outscored the Mets, 30-9, in four games in the NLCS.

Mets come up empty with bases loaded

The Mets had a massive chance to cut into the Dodgers' five-run lead but came up small.

They loaded the bases on singles by Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte and a walk by J.D. Martinez but recorded three straight outs to strand all three runners. Jose Iglesias struck out, Jeff McNeil flew out and Jesse Winker lined out.

The Dodgers lead 7-2 through six innings.

Mookie Betts welcomes Phil Maton with two-run home run

When Phil Maton came on in the sixth inning, Shohei Ohtani was already stationed on first after drawing a one-out walk against Jose Butto.

Maton left his fifth pitch — a sweeper — belt-high and Betts ripped it into the left-field seats for a two-run home run to grow the Dodgers' advantage to 7-2. Betts is a triple away from the cycle, opening 3-for-4 with a double, home run, four RBI, while Ohtani is 1-for-1 with a home run, four runs and three walks.

Butto ended up being charged with one earned run across two innings, with one hit, two walks and three strikeouts.

Jose Quintana's outing unravels with fourth-inning traffic

Carlos Mendoza gave Jose Quintana the hook with one out in the top of the fourth inning after an infield single to Chris Taylor and walk to Shohei Ohtani.

With Jose Butto in the game, Mookie Betts laced a two-run double to the wall in left field. After not giving up an earned run in his previous two postseason starts, Quintana gave up five earned runs on five hits and four walks in 3⅓ innings. He threw 83 pitches and struck out two.

Mets get back within one run in third inning

The Mets are making Yoshinobu Yamamoto work.

In the bottom of the third inning., Francisco Alvarez and Francisco Lindor knocked back-to-back singles and Pete Alonso drew a walk to load the bases with one out.

Alvarez scored on a fielder's choice to the right side that Brandon Nimmo beat out to get the Mets within 3-2.

Tommy Edman, Kike Hernandez boost Dodgers in front in third inning

Tommy Edman and Kike Hernandez have both been unusual thorns in the side of the Mets throughout the NLCS.

Jose Quintana struggled through the top of the Dodgers' lineup and Edman and Hernandez made him pay. After walking Shohei Ohtani and giving up a single to Mookie Betts, Edman lined an RBI double into the left-center field gap. Then, Hernandez made it 3-1 Dodgers with an RBI infield single that glanced off the glove of a diving Francisco Lindor.

Mark Vientos evens the score with solo home run in bottom first

After Mets fans did not have a whole lot to cheer about in Game 3, Mark Vientos gave them something at the start of Game 4.

Vientos tagged a 95.1 mph fastball from the Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto over the right-field wall to answer Shohei Ohtani's leadoff blast. It is Vientos' team-high fourth home run of the postseason. The Mets and Dodgers are tied 1-1 after the first inning.

Shohei Ohtani blasts leadoff home run off Jose Quintana

It did not take long for the Dodgers to quiet the Citi Field crowd in Game 4.

On the second pitch of the night from the Mets' Jose Quintana, Shohei Ohtani blasted a solo home run on a hanging sinker 422 feet into the Mets' bullpen. It is the first earned run that Quintana has given up in three postseason starts this season.

Mets announce NLCS Game 4 lineup

Dodgers announce NLCS Game 4 lineup

Mets vs Dodgers NLCS Game 4 time today

• Time: 8:08 p.m.
• Location: Citi Field, Flushing, NY

What channel is Mets vs Dodgers NLCS Game 4 on today?

TV: FS1

Watch Mets vs. Dodgers live on Fubo

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Instant analysis: Mets' backs to the wall after dropping another NLCS home game to Dodgers