Mets Dodgers NLCS Game 5/ Pete Alonso home run/ Mets win Game 5/ Dodgers pitching struggles/ Mets Dodgers Game 6 preview/ Newslooks/ NEW YORK/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The New York Mets extended the NLCS to Game 6 with a 12-6 win over the Dodgers. Pete Alonso hit a three-run homer, while Starling Marte and Francisco Alvarez led the offense. Jack Flaherty struggled for the Dodgers, allowing eight runs. Despite a late Dodgers rally, Mets pitchers held on, with Ryne Stanek and Edwin Díaz closing out the win. The series heads back to Los Angeles, where the Mets will face a Dodgers bullpen game in their attempt to force a Game 7.
Mets Stay Alive in NLCS Quick Looks
- Alonso’s Heroics: Pete Alonso’s three-run homer set the tone, helping the Mets extend the NLCS with a critical Game 5 win.
- Offensive Explosion: Starling Marte had four hits, including three doubles, while Francisco Alvarez snapped out of a slump with three hits.
- Dodgers Struggle: Starter Jack Flaherty allowed eight runs, as LA’s rotation continued to suffer from injuries.
- Dodgers Fight Back: Mookie Betts and rookie Andy Pages both homered, but it wasn’t enough to catch up to the Mets’ offensive onslaught.
- Game 6 Preview: The Mets will send Sean Manaea to the mound, while the Dodgers are expected to use a bullpen game to counter.
Alonso Leads Mets to 12-6 Win over Dodgers, Forces NLCS Game 6
Deep Look
The New York Mets extended their season once again with a powerful 12-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS), sending the series back to Los Angeles for Game 6. Pete Alonso led the way with a towering three-run home run in the first inning, sparking a relentless Mets offense that kept their World Series hopes alive.
Coming into the game trailing 3-1 in the series, the Mets faced elimination but responded early and emphatically. Alonso’s homer, his fourth of the postseason, set the tone against Dodgers’ starter Jack Flaherty, who struggled from the outset. Flaherty, battling illness and fatigue, allowed eight runs over three innings, and the Mets took advantage, building a commanding 8-1 lead by the third inning. Alonso’s clutch performance marked the second time this postseason he has come through with a critical home run to extend New York’s playoff run.
Starling Marte was another standout for the Mets, delivering four hits, including three doubles, and driving in three runs. Francisco Alvarez, who had been in a postseason slump, broke out with three hits and an RBI. Francisco Lindor added to the offense with a triple, and Jesse Winker contributed an RBI triple of his own.
New York’s offensive outburst came as a relief after they had been outclassed by the Dodgers in the previous two games at Citi Field. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza praised Alonso’s early home run for setting the tone, saying, “We just continued to add on,” as the team never let up on its aggressive approach.
The Dodgers, who have been dealing with a depleted pitching staff due to injuries, relied heavily on Flaherty to close out the series, but the ace was not up to the task. Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged that Flaherty wasn’t sharp and had been dealing with health issues leading up to the game, which may have affected his performance.
Despite the Mets’ early dominance, the Dodgers showed signs of life late in the game. Rookie Andy Pages hit two home runs and drove in four runs, while Mookie Betts homered for the second straight game. However, the Dodgers could not overcome the Mets’ sizable lead, with the score narrowing to 10-6 before the Mets put the game out of reach.
The Mets’ bullpen came through when it mattered most. Ryne Stanek pitched a career-high 2 1/3 innings in relief, and closer Edwin Díaz recorded six outs to seal the victory. Díaz expressed confidence in the Mets’ ability to win two more games in Los Angeles, saying, “We can beat them.”
Looking ahead to Game 6, the Mets will send left-hander Sean Manaea to the mound on five days’ rest. Manaea has been solid in the playoffs, posting a 2-0 record with a 2.65 ERA. The Dodgers, on the other hand, will have to rely on another bullpen game, as injuries continue to hamper their starting rotation.
While the Mets are fighting to extend their season and force a Game 7, Alonso remains a central figure. With his future as a free agent looming, Alonso has delivered in critical moments for the team that drafted him in 2016, and the New York crowd acknowledged his impact with chants of his name late in the game.
Despite the Mets’ resurgence, the Dodgers remain confident heading back to Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles has been formidable at home throughout the season, and Roberts hinted that changes could be coming to the lineup, including a potential decision to rest All-Star Freddie Freeman, who returned to the lineup on Friday after dealing with an ankle injury.
As the series shifts back to LA, the Mets will need to continue their offensive surge and rely on strong pitching to push the series to a decisive Game 7. With momentum on their side and a resilient approach, the Mets believe they have what it takes to come from behind and secure their place in the World Series.
