NEW YORK — Dodgers designated Shohei Ohtani knew it as soon as he hit it. So did the 43,883 Mets fans watching Mets right-hander Tylor Megill’s pitch sail over the foul pole in right field and deep into the stands.
Thus began the mass exodus from Citi Field in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series with the Mets losing 7-0. Fortunately for patrons leaving early for the exits, they didn’t get to see Megill get tagged for another home run, this one a solo shot from Max Muncy, also into the second deck in right field.
The Mets missed several opportunities to score in Wednesday’s 8-0 loss. After loading the bases with one out in the second, Francisco Alvarez and Francisco Lindor both struck out to end the inning without scoring a run.
They blew two more chances in the third and sixth innings. With runners on first and second and two outs, J.D. Martinez struck out to end the third. Then, In the sixth inning, Jose Iglesias grounded into an inning-ending double play, stranding a runner in scoring position.
In all, the Mets stranded eight runners and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
Credit goes to Dodgers starter Walker Buehler, who allowed six runs in five innings his last time out. The right-hander made Mets hitters look foolish, generating 18 swings in four innings, the most of any pitcher in the postseason since Kyle Lohse in 2003.
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After retiring the top of the lineup with ease in the first inning, requiring just 12 pitches to do it, Mets starter Luis Severino ran into trouble in the second. That’s when he began the inning by allowing the first two batters on. Then, after recording an out, he allowed an RBI single and a sacrifice fly to center before escaping the inning down 2-0.
Severino ran into some trouble again in the third. After walking the first two batters in the inning, he allowed a bloop single to load the bases. Fortunately, he worked out of the inning without allowing a run.
In the end, Severino allowed two runs (none earned) in 4 2/3 innings and three strikeouts. His outing could have been worse as he allowed seven baserunners (three hits and four walks).
Severino was replaced by Reed Garrett in the fifth, who escaped the inning with a strikeout. He wouldn’t be so lucky in the sixth inning. After retiring the first two batters, he allowed a single and then a two-run home run by Kiké Hernández, which extended the Dodgers’ lead to 4-0.
Mets relievers also allowed too many baserunners. In 4 1/3 combined innings, Garrett and Megill allowed six runs on seven hits and four walks. Combined, Mets pitchers allowed 10 hits and seven walks, a recipe for disaster for any team.
The Mets look to even the series in Game 4 with left-hander Jose Quintana set to start against Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
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Manny Gómez may be reached at mgomez@njadvancemedia.com.
