The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets began a four-game series on Monday night in LA. This is a rematch of the 2024 National League Championship Series that Los Angeles won in six games. Going on to win the World Series, the Dodgers added even more talent in the offseason.
Also retooling this past winter, headlined by the historic signing of Juan Soto, New York continued to build around its core that features Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and other integral pieces.
This series also features the top-two National League MVP vote getters from last season. Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani won the award unanimously, with Lindor coming in second place.
Both Ohtani and Lindor homered in Monday’s series opener. Lindor led off the game with his home run, while Ohtani left the yard in the seventh inning. Both homers were impressive, with Ohtani’s traveling 424 feet and Lindor’s traveling 417 feet from home.
Speaking with reporters after the game, Lindor mentioned the distance on Ohtani’s home run, joking it must have went 40 feet further than his.
“I hit it with everything I had,” Lindor said of his leadoff blast. “Not as far as Ohtani. Ohtani's was probably 40 feet further than mine. But they count the same.”
Francisco Lindor on his leadoff homer:
"I hit it with everything I had. Not as far as Ohtani. Ohtani was probably 40 feet further than mine. But they count the same"
As it turns out, Ohtani’s went just seven feet further, and both were solo shots. Both players added RBIs later in the game, but it was Lindor’s Mets who edged out Ohtani‘s Dodgers 4-3 in extra innings to take the first game of this series.
This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.
