Mets were demolished again by the Dodgers, sending the season into a tailspin

There are holes and then there are craters the size of Chavez Canyon, better known as Dodger Stadium.

For the Mets, one measure of success would be returning this NLCS to Los Angeles – something that seemed like a sure thing after they left Southern California with the series tied earlier this week, but after Thursday’s 10-2 loss in Game 4 at Citi Field doesn’t seem so sure.

For the Mets, who lost 3-1 in the series, the mission is clear: Win three straight games against the Dodgers, starting with Game 5 on Friday in Queens, or start planning for spring training.

Even with Freddie Freeman (ankle) on the bench, this strong Dodgers lineup tormented the Mets for the third time in four games. And while the Mets weren’t spared from defeat for the first time in the series, their lineup didn’t come close to causing a stir.

Exhibit A was the sixth inning, when the Mets loaded the bases with no outs against reliever Evan Phillips and failed to score – pinch-hitter Jesse Winker’s long drive to right offered hope, but only for a split second.

The Mets finished the game 0-10 with runners in scoring position. Through four games, they are 4 of 29 (.138) in this category. The Dodgers outscored the Mets 30-9 in the series.

In his first real clunker in nearly two months, Jose Quintana lasted just 3¹/₃ innings, allowing five earned runs on five hits with four walks and two strikeouts. The veteran left-hander pitched 11 innings without giving up an earned run in two previous starts this postseason.

Shohei Ohtani threw Quintana’s second pitch of the game over the right field fence, making it his second home run in a few days. That blast caused Ohtani’s bat to reach 117.8 mph, giving him three home runs this postseason.

Mark Vientos’ rocket to Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the bottom of the inning tied the score at 1-1. It was the fourth home run of the postseason for Vientos, whose grand slam led the Mets to victory in Game 2 at Dodger Stadium. Vientos’ 12 RBIs tied the franchise single-season record with Curtis Granderson (2015) and John Olerud (1999).

Quintana’s night turned south in the third. Tommy Edman hit an RBI double and Enrique Hernandez’s ensuing infield single gave the Dodgers a 3-1 lead. Ohtani walked with one out to start the rally, and Mookie Betts’ subsequent single put extra pressure on Quintana.

Brandon Nimmo’s scramble helped the Mets get a run back in the bottom of the inning. Nimmo, who is dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot, led off the season with a double-play grounder after the Mets loaded the bases with one out. Francisco Alvarez and Francisco Lindor started the rally one after the other before Pete Alonso left.

Chris Taylor hit a single and Ohtani walked to start another Dodgers rally in the fourth. Jose Butto replaced Quintana and was greeted by Betts with a double that extended the Dodgers’ lead to 5-2.

Yamamoto was eliminated in the fifth round after knocking Alvarez to the ground and punching Lindor. The right-hander allowed two earned runs on four hits with one walk and eight strikeouts over 4 ¹/₃ innings.

Max Muncy had a single hit in each of his first three plate appearances, extending his streak to 12 straight, an MLB postseason record.

Betts hit a home run off Phil Maton in the sixth, burying the Mets in a 7-2 hole. Ohtani’s third straight walk ended Butto’s effort before Betts cleared the left field fence against Maton.

Jose Iglesias, pinch-hitter Jeff McNeil and Winker retired one after the other without scoring a run after the Mets loaded the bases in the sixth with no one out.

Lindor and Nimmo singled in the seventh, but Starling Marte was retired by Blake Treinen to end the rally.

Edman’s two-run double in the eighth and Will Smith’s RBI single buried the Mets in a 10-2 hole.