Mets Awaken, Blast Dodgers Force Game 6

METS 12 - DODGERS 6 

The New York Mets are alive, and they still have a shot in this NLCS. After back-to-back blowout losses to the Dodgers in Games 3 and 4, the Mets jumped all over LA in Game 5, winning 12-6 to keep the dream alive for at least one more day. 

If there is one thing this 2024 New York Mets team has taught us all season: they never give up. 

They didn't give up when they got off to an 0-5 start to the season. 

They didn't give up when they were 11-games under .500 in May. 

Pete Alonso celebrates. Getty Images

They didn't give up in Atlanta on the last day of the season to get into the postseason.

They didn't give up when the Brewers had them on elimination's door in Game 3 of the Wild Card round.

And they didn't give up in Game of the NLCS while facing elimination at home. 

The Mets tattooed Dodgers starting pitcher Jake Flahtery, who dominated them in Game 1. On Friday night, the Mets returned the favor, knocking him out after three innings, where he was charged with eight runs on eight hits. 

Pete Alonso, a free agent to be this coming winter, had himself a night going 2-for-3 with four runs scored and three RBI. His three-run bomb in the bottom of the first inning set the tone for the rest of the evening for the Mets as Citi Field became Party Citi yet again. 

Alonso's homer proved to be infectious as the rest of the Mets lineup got involved in big ways. Starling Marte, Francisco Alvarez, Francisco Lindor and Jesse Winker all had multi-hit games in the victory. 

Marte had the biggest night of all, going 4-for-5 with three doubles, and three RBI. Marte's third inning double brought home both Alonso and Winker to make it 5-1. He later added an RBI single in the eight inning to cap off the scoring for the Amazin's. 

 

Francisco Lindor and Jesse Winker both got into the action with RBI triples to help the Mets build a 10-2 lead.

Unfortunately for New York, the Dodgers wouldn't go away. Home runs by Andy Pages and Mookie Betts pulled LA to within four runs, at 10-6. But the Mets bullpen stood firm. 

Ryne Staneck gave the Mets 2.1 quality innings out of the pen, allowing only a run while striking out four batters. 

He set the stage for Edwin Diaz who was brilliant in two innings of relief to secure the Mets victory in a non-save situation. 

The win assures that the Mets will play a Game 6 in Los Angeles on Sunday night. The Mets will have a pitching advantage with Sean Manaea getting the ball on short rest against the Dodgers bullpen.