Takeaways from Dodgers-Mets NLCS Game 1: Dodgers' dominant offense and pitching overwhelm Mets

Jack Flaherty gave Dodgers a major lift on the mound

While the Dodgers offense erupted for nine runs, a solid performance from Flaherty may have been the most important thing to come out of Game 1. With the high possibility that L.A. will need to pitch a bullpen game on Monday, the eight-year veteran gave the team's relievers a much-needed rest.

Flaherty pitched seven scoreless innings, striking out six while allowing only two hits. As a result, manager Dave Roberts only had to use his pen sparingly, with Daniel Hudson and Ben Casparius (33 total pitches) being the only relievers to see action.

Meanwhile, momentum for the pitching staff as a whole continues to rise. Following Sunday's shutout win, the Dodgers have put together 33 consecutive scoreless innings, tying the 1966 Baltimore Orioles for the longest such streak in postseason history.

For the first time this postseason, the moment looked too big for Mets

After getting away with throwing outside the zone in the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Mets didn't have the same luck in Game 1. The Dodgers lineup showed tremendous patience, posting more walks (seven) than strikeouts (five) while forcing five New York hurlers to throw a combined 146 pitches.

The Mets made several uncharacteristic mistakes on the field (two errors) and the base paths. In the fifth inning, Jesse Winker's blunder encapsulated Sunday's effort, wiping out the lineup's first base hit a batter later after hesitating around second base following a single by Jose Iglesias before being thrown out at third with his team down 6-0. 

Offensively, New York went down in order five times against Dodger pitching, recording only three hits. Meanwhile, the Mets one through six hitters finished 0-of-17 with seven strikeouts.