Mets crush Dodgers in Game 5 to send NLCS back to Los Angeles

New York Mets’ Starling Marte hits a RBI-single against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the eighth inning in Game 5 of a baseball NL Championship Series, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers fell short in a National League Championship Series Game 5 slugfest Friday, falling to the New York Mets by a score of 12-6 and forcing the best-of-seven series back to Los Angeles on Sunday.

With the team entering the game with a three-to-one series lead, Dodger fans were hoping the team would clinch a World Series berth Friday with a Game 5 victory at Citi Field in New York.

But the Mets had other plans, jumping to an early lead thanks to a three-run home run by first baseman Pete Alonso in the bottom of the first inning. The Mets then broke the game open by putting up five runs in the third inning.

Trailing 8-2 in the fourth, the Dodgers managed to load the bases, but Freddie Freeman struck out looking to end the rally. The Mets then tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the inning to stretch the lead to 10-2.

The Dodgers, however, refused to go quietly. Andy Pages belted a three-run, 376-foot home run over the left-centerfield wall in the top of the fifth, then Mookie Betts led off the sixth with a 382-foot solo shot, cutting the lead to 10-6.

But the Mets tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth, then added an insurance run in the eighth to wrap up the scoring.

The Dodgers still lead the best-of-seven series three games to two.

Game 6 will be played at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, followed by Game 7, if necessary, on Monday.
Burbank-born pitcher Jack Flaherty took the loss for the Dodgers.

Flaherty was the winning pitcher in Game 1 of the series Sunday, limiting the Mets to two hits, striking out six and walking two.

The former Harvard-Westlake School standout had a 6-2 regular-season record with a 3.58 ERA after being acquired by the Dodgers on July 30 from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for minor leaguers Thayron Liranzo and Trey Sweeney.

The Dodgers were 7-3 in his 10 regular-season starts and are now 1-2 in his three postseason starts.
Mets right-hander Ryne Stanek got the win. (CNS)