UPDATE: Dodgers starter Walker Buehler pitched four scoreless innings with six strikeouts in the 8-0 win. He walked two and allowed three hits over his 90 pitches.
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Walker Buehler is pitching with so much emotion in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series that he let the New York Mets know about it.
In his biggest moment to date Wednesday, he escaped a second-inning, bases-loaded jam with one out with two consecutive strikeouts — first to Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez and the second to shortstop Francisco Lindor, who fanned on a filthy knuckle curve ball on a seven-pitch at-bat. At the time, the Dodgers were clinging to a 2-0 lead.
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Then, Buehler exploded with emotion, first shouting to himself, “Let’s go!” and some more words before turning to Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez, who was leaving the field, and yelling, “Swing the bat, J.D.!” Martinez was the first Mets batter to get on base that inning, via a six-pitch walk. (Buehler later struck him out in the third inning.)
Buehler and Martinez were Dodgers teammates in 2023, though the Dodgers' starting pitcher missed the entire season after his second Tommy John surgery. Buehler returned in May after a 23-month absence that was also delayed by a hip injury.
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