The stage was set Friday for a classic postseason pitching duel between the Mets and Dodgers in Game 1 of the NL Division Series. Indeed, it made history.
Mets starter Jacob deGrom and Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw put opposing batters on a turnstile, combining for 24 strikeouts. It was the first time in MLB playoff history both pitchers had struck out at least 11 batters apiece.
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Kershaw logged 11 strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. He was charged with three earned runs, including a fourth-inning solo home run to Daniel Murphy that gave the Mets a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
DeGrom, meanwhile, was nearly spotless, allowing six baserunners (five hits, one walk) over seven innings while striking out 13. He earned the win as the Mets' bullpen closed out a 3-1 victory — the franchise's first in the postseason since 2006.
DeGrom's 13 strikeouts tied Tom Seaver's single-game Mets postseason record set in Game 1 of the 1973 NLCS against the Reds
The last time opposing pitchers came close to the combined performance by Kershaw and deGrom was in Game 5 of the 1944 World Series, when St. Louis Cardinals starter Mort Cooper struck out 12 and his St. Louis Browns counterpart, Denny Galehouse, struck out 10.
