"Jack Flaherty had that attitude" - Max Muncy gives Dodgers pitchers big pat on the back after record-setting shutdown to start NLCS against Mets
Jack Flaherty got the NLCS Game 1 start after the Los Angeles Dodgers' thrilling victory in the NLDS. Since the division series against the San Diego Padres took all five games, the pitching order was not what it once was, which meant Flaherty was on the mound on Sunday against the New York Mets.
The righty pitcher had struggled at times in the NLDS, but he responded with seven shutout innings, allowing only two hits and no runs against the Mets.
Superstar Max Muncy, who provided the first two runs in the first inning (the only necessary runs all night), gave his starting pitcher a lot of credit when asked in the postgame interview.
"Our pitching staff's been unbelievable," Muncy said. "It was nice to get Jack some support early. He went out there and did what we thought he was going to do. He was great, he shoved. He had the attitude, he kept us going the whole night. He gave us seven solid innings, allows us to do some different things."
Flaherty was brought in at the trade deadline for games like this. The Dodgers staff was much-maligned during the season, whether it was Walker Buehler's bad form, Tyler Glasnow's injury or other issues. Flaherty put all that on the back burner in Game 1.
Dave Roberts praises Jack Flaherty's effort
For 33 innings, no one has scored on the Los Angeles Dodgers. The San Diego Padres scored six runs early in Game 3 of the NLDS but were quiet the rest of the way. The New York Mets were unable to get on the board against Jack Flaherty and the bullpen in their 9-0 NLCS Game 1 defeat on Sunday.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Flaherty's role in that streak on Sunday night, saying via MLB:
“We came out of it with a lot of guys that are rested and raring to go. I felt good about that. Jack being able to do that opens up a lot of things. It was just a pitching clinic.”
Francisco Lindor, who was held hitless in the contest, said that Flaherty has been pitching well for a long time and that he was not surprised that the pitcher had a game like that in him.