The Mets’ offense needs to “turn the page quickly” after their lackluster showing in Game 1 of the NLCS.

The Mets didn’t have the kind of start they had hoped for in Game 1 of the NLCS, losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-0 after being behind from the first inning of play.

Additionally, New York’s offense stagnated against right-hander Jack Flaherty, who pitched seven shutout innings while giving up two hits, two walks, and six strikeouts. Senga, the opener, had a brief outing that left much to be desired.

After scoring 15 runs in three games against the Milwaukee Brewers and 23 runs in four games during a series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday night marked the first time this postseason that the Mets’ offense looked completely flat and showed very little of their trademark late-inning magic.

Additionally, it was the first time in a long time that New York had three days off in between games. While the worn-out team undoubtedly benefited from the break, might it have destroyed the momentum they had lately developed?

“We feel like we can keep up that energy, that drive, and that momentum,” Starling added. Marte using a translator. “We can close the series and turn the page tomorrow, but we’ll still go out there, fight, and approach with the same confidence.

“We won’t let this game get to us; we just need to come back and play hard and do what we know we can do. This team’s motivation and energy are still there.”

In the fifth inning, Jesse Winker gave the Mets their first hit of the game off of Flaherty with a single, and Jose Iglesias followed suit with a single of his own, giving the impression that New York might be putting some pressure on the right-hander. This gave the Mets one excellent scoring opportunity.

However, Winker attempted to advance from first to third on an Iglesias single, but he stopped in the middle and then resumed as the ball was tossed to second base. Winker was tagged out for the first out of the inning when he arrived at third base after it was too late.

The Mets lost a chance to tie the game and Flaherty was spared by the baserunning error.

It’s obviously my fault, Winker remarked. “Once you get on base, there’s a checklist of plays you have to follow. I read first to third right away, but I kind of got stuck in no man’s land because I didn’t want to get thrown out. It was a pretty stupid play on my part. I’ll take what I can from it and keep going. I’m responsible for it.

Even while it wasn’t ideal, it’s unlikely that much would have changed given that New York finished with just three hits and three walks. In addition, they appeared outmatched versus Los Angeles and committed two mistakes in the field.

Nevertheless, in a game where New York had few opportunities, the baserunning error was a horrible look.

What hurts the most, according to Winker, is that the baserunning play “kind of takes the wind out of the potential rally.”

On Monday afternoon in Game 2, with Sean Manaea starting and the Dodgers playing out of their bullpen, the Mets will get another chance.

But Los Angeles’ bullpen shut out the San Diego Padres in Game 4 of the NLDS—another bullpen game—and again in Game 5 in relief of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, so it should prove to be another struggle for New York. As a matter of fact, since the second inning of Game 3 in San Diego, the Dodgers’ pitching staff has posted 33 straight scoreless innings.

The Mets are fortunate in that they “can turn the page quickly.”

“We’re gonna continue to come out with the same confidence and the same work ethic,” Marte stated. “That’s just what the game is sometimes, whoever scores the most ends up winning so we’re gonna have to come in tomorrow and we’re gonna have to battle the way that we’re accustomed to doing and with the same confidence that we’ve had before this game started.”

Winker continued, “It’s a lengthy series. There is just one game. We’ll continue to advance.”