In theory, the Dodgers' decision to play a bullpen game in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Monday made sense.

Thanks to Jack Flaherty's seven-inning Game 1 winner, the club's lockdown relief corps had just gotten a rare night off. Walker Buehler was an option for a more traditional start, but the Dodgers wanted to save him for Game 3 in New York instead.

So they planned to re-implement the pitching plan that worked so well in Game 4 of the NL Division Series, when they avoided elimination with a group effort shutout by eight different pitchers.

The only problem: it never materialized.

Unlike last week in San Diego, the Dodgers waited to use their top relievers on Monday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.

And before they could even get to her, the game was already out of control.

With a 7-3 loss to the New York Mets that tied this NLCS at one game apiece, the Dodgers' record-setting 33-inning scoreless streak ended quickly – and disastrously – with the Mets scoring a run in the first inning . then he hit five in the second round.

Right-handed opener Ryan Brasier allowed a leadoff home run to Francisco Lindor in the first at-bat of the game. Then the real disaster struck when the Dodgers traded to rookie right-hander Landon Knack in the second.

New York's Mark Vientos celebrates as he runs past Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman after hitting a grand slam in the second inning of Game 2 of the NLCS on Monday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

In that Game 4 win over the Padres, Knack – the former second-round draft pick whose solid rookie season wasn't enough to warrant full starting pitching duties in the playoffs – didn't take the mound until the ninth inning when the Dodgers took the mound had an eight-run lead.

But on Monday, he became the first pitcher out of the bullpen. Not Anthony Banda (who pitched in the second inning of Game 4 in the NLDS). Not Michael Kopech (who was called up for the third inning that night). And not any of the team's other dominant backup players.

In hindsight…it was a costly decision.

After giving up a leadoff single and putting another runner on base with a walk, Knack never managed to stop the bleeding. Tyrone Taylor hit an RBI double down the left field line for a run. After an intentional walk to Lindor loaded the bases, Mark Vientos pitched a nine-pitch at-bat that ended with a grand slam.

Just like that, the Mets were 6-0.

And after the Dodgers failed to come back, the dynamic of this seven-game series has now changed.

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani reacts after striking out in the first inning against the Mets in Game 2 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium on Monday.

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Suddenly, it looks like a series that could end in a win after Game 1 could go the distance. If that's the case, the Dodgers will almost certainly need another bullpen game at some point.

And for a team that already had pitching uncertainties early on (to put it kindly), Monday showed that a plan that relies on relief isn't foolproof either.

Admittedly, poor pitching wasn't the only reason the Dodgers lost on Monday.

Against left-hander Sean Manaea, who entered the game with a career 7.09 ERA against the Dodgers, their bats stayed cold but held them scoreless until a solo home run by Max Muncy in the bottom of the fifth.

Max Muncy celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning of Game 2 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium on Monday.

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

And even when they got back to within three and scored a pair of runs in the sixth after two errors from the Mets' infield, Kiké Hernández twice came up empty while pitching the tying or go-ahead run and ended up rolling into a bases-loaded one Double play the sixth before flying out with two aboard to end the eighth.

Still, an inability to repeat last week's bullpen game put the Dodgers behind from the start. Instead of taking a commanding two-game lead in this best-of-seven series, they opened a door for the surging Mets, who have now stolen home field advantage from them.