The Mets, after a marathon slog of a game Friday night and a comfortable win on Saturday night, were trying to secure the series win with the Sunday night rubber game. Kodai Senga was taking the mound for the Mets, and facing Landon Knack starting for the Dodgers.
It was an inauspicious start for Senga, giving up a lead off home run to Shohei Ohtani on the second pitch of the game. He got into more trouble after a Mark Vientos misplay on a ground ball allowed Mookie Betts to reach first, and a Freddie Freeman double put two runners in scoring position without a single out.