NEW YORK – Shohei Ohtani launched a three-run homer and the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff pitched another shutout Wednesday night, this time in an 8-0 victory over the New York Mets in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series.

Kiké Hernández hit a two-run shot to make it 4-0 in the sixth inning and waved to the Citi Field crowd that he quieted. Los Angeles recovered from a loss at home to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series by posting its fourth shutout in the past five playoff games.

Ohtani connected in the eighth, a 400-foot drive that reached the second deck in right field and barely stayed above the foul pole.

Max Muncy went deep in the ninth for his 13th career postseason homer, tying Corey Seager and Justin Turner for the franchise record. Muncy also connected in Game 2.

An excited Walker Buehler struck out Francisco Lindor to leave the bases loaded in the second inning, and the Dodgers got five stingy innings out of their hard-throwing bullpen. Buehler combined with four relievers on a four-hitter.

“I said earlier that I like pitching in the cold,” Buehler said. “The ball was moving pretty well for me today. Will (Smith) did a really good job. Shutouts in the playoffs aren’t easy, and Will did a really good job.”

The Dodgers became the first team in Major League history with three eight-run shutouts in a single postseason; all have happened in their last five games. They are also the third team all-time with multiple eight-run shutouts in a single postseason series, after shutting out New York 9–0 in Game 1.

For Buehler, it was his second scoreless start all season and his first since May 18. Entering Game 3, he had allowed a run in 14 consecutive starts, the longest streak of his career.

“He’s Walker,” Muncy said of Buehler. “There’s a phrase for what that was tonight, and obviously I’m not going to say it. But that was Walker Buehler.

“That’s what I expected. He won’t back down at this point. If anything, it will make him stronger.”

Buehler induced 18 swings-and-misses, his most in any game since 2021. It also tied his most ever in a playoff game.

Game 4 is Thursday night in Queens, with $325 million rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto scheduled to face Los Angeles against veteran left-hander Jose Quintana.

Michael Kopech scored a hitless fifth for the win, and Dodgers pitchers finished with 13 strikeouts.

Mets starter Luis Severino fell behind 2-0 in the second inning, partly due to sloppy fielding. He didn’t allow an earned run, but threw 95 pitches and walked four in 4 2/3 innings, taking the loss.

Smith drove in a run with an infield single, and Tommy Edman had a sacrifice fly that could have been more had it not been for a sensational catch to the right-center warning track by Tyrone Taylor.

This report uses information from ESPN Research and The Associated Press.