LOS ANGELES – The Mets made sure that their Citi Field homecoming will be an encouraging one.
After a lackluster Game 1 performance against the Dodgers on Sunday, the Mets mounted a quick response in Game 2 to even the National League Championship Series.
The Mets broke through for six runs in the first two innings, including a grand slam by Mark Vientos and solo home run by Francisco Lindor, to take down the Dodgers, 7-3, in front of 52,926 fans on Monday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.
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The series between the Mets and Dodgers is now tied 1-1 as the two sides head back across the country for three games in Flushing beginning at 8:08 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Mets’ early onslaught was enough to withstand a Dodgers’ push in the fifth and sixth innings. Max Muncy belted a solo home run off Sean Manaea in the sixth and Phil Maton worked through a bases-loaded jam by surrendering two runs – both charged to Manaea – in the sixth inning.
Edwin Diaz allowed two straight baserunners in the ninth but then struck out Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in order to pick up the save.
With the Mets evening the NLCS at one game apiece, here are the updates and analysis from NLCS Game 2 against the Dodgers:
Edwin Diaz enters in eighth, strands two
The Mets' Ryne Stanek made four straight outs between the seventh and eighth innings before he encountered his first trouble. He gave up a two-out single to Tommy Edman and walked Max Muncy.
That led Carlos Mendoza to call on Edwin Diaz, who induced a fly ball to right field from Kike Hernandez to get out of the jam. The Mets lead the Dodgers, 6-3, heading to the ninth.
Dodgers feverish rally squelched with bases loaded
The Dodgers mounted their first major offensive in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Mets and Sean Manaea.
Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez walked in the first two at-bats and the Dodgers loaded the bases when Jose Iglesias mishandled an in-between hop in the next at-bat. That ended Manaea's day.
Phil Maton came on and gave up a one-out, two-run single to Tommy Edman but ended the threat there. He walked Max Muncy to reload the bases but picked up a double play by Kike Hernandez as the Mets' lead was cut to 6-3.
Max Muncy gets the Dodgers on the board
Sean Manaea has not made many mistakes in his third postseason start for the Mets.
One of his only errors came in the bottom of the fifth inning when he left a 3-1 sinker belt high and over the heart of the plate. Max Muncy made him pay by delivering a solo home run to right field to trim the Mets' advantage to 6-1.
It was Muncy's 12th postseason home run, third all-time in Dodgers history behind Corey Seager and Justin Turner, who each had 13.
Sean Manaea silencing top of Dodgers lineup early
In the opening game of the NLCS, the Dodgers stars tormented the Mets' pitching staff. Shohei Ohtani had two hits and scored two runs, Mookie Betts drove in three runs and Freddie Freeman had two hits, scored once and drove in a run.
Sean Manaea has silenced that contingent early. He's struck out Ohtani twice, held Betts without a hit and struck him out once in two at-bats. Manaea is through three scoreless innings with six strikeouts and 45 pitches.
Mets load bases again in third but come up empty
The Mets applied plenty of pressure against Dodgers righty Landon Knack.
After Mark Vientos belted a grand slam off Knack in the second inning, the Mets loaded the bases against Knack on singles by Pete Alonso and Jose Iglesias and a walk by Tyrone Taylor in the third. But Francisco Alvarez flew out to center field to end the threat. The Mets lead 6-0.
Mark Vientos grand slam highlights five-run second inning
The Dodgers were intent on deploying a bullpen game in Game 2. So far, the Mets are having their way with those relievers.
In the top of the second inning against Landon Knack, Tyrone Taylor laced an RBI double to left field. Then, with two runners in scoring position, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts intentionally walked Francisco Lindor.
Mark Vientos made the Dodgers pay as he ripped a opposite-field grand slam to boost the Mets ahead 6-0 in the second inning.
Francisco Lindor sets the tone with leadoff home run
After the Mets were silenced throughout Game 1 against Dodgers pitching, Francisco Lindor made an early statement in the second game, belting a leadoff home run off Ryan Brasier to give the Mets a 1-0 lead.
It was the sixth postseason leadoff home run in Mets history and first since Curtis Granderson did it in Game 5 of the World Series in 2015.
NY Mets announce NLCS Game 2 lineup
LA Dodgers announce NLCS Game 2 lineup
What channel is NY Mets vs LA Dodgers Game 2 on today? Time, TV schedule
TV: FOX
Watch Mets vs. Dodgers live on Fubo
NY Mets vs Dodgers Game 2 time today
- Date: Monday, Oct. 14.
- Start time: 4:08 p.m
- Location: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Instant analysis: Mets ride fast start to take NLCS Game 2 over Dodgers
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