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Dodgers vs. Mets: New York bats come alive in Game 5, sending series back to Los Angeles

The 2024 NLCS has been an exchange of blowouts so far, and the New York Mets were on the right side in Game 5, earning a 12-6 victory in New York on Friday.

Facing Jack Flaherty, who shut them out in seven innings in Game 1, the Mets responded by knocking him down over the course of three innings. Pete Alonso got things started loudly with a three-run homer, and five more runs followed in the third inning.

The Dodgers could have been more aggressive in signing Flaherty, but they clearly decided to do whatever it took to get through the game without using their better bullpen arms. After Flaherty spent three innings, LA replaced him with mop man Brent Honeywell Jr., who got the rest of the outs in the game except one.

However, the game was not over after the third inning. Although the Dodgers were austere with their bullpen, their vaunted offense still did enough damage against the Mets’ middle relief to pull off a grand slam in the sixth inning.

But that was as close as they could get. The Mets decided not to take any chances and used set-up man Ryne Stanek and closer Edwin Diaz for the final 12 outs of the game. It was an aggressive move, but since neither reliever had appeared since Game 2 on Monday, the aggression had the benefit of keeping them hot.

The series now heads back to Los Angeles, where a more favorable matchup awaits the Mets in Game 6. They will likely have Sean Manaea, who shut out the Dodgers in Game 2, against a bullpen matchup for the Dodgers. The first pitch is scheduled for Sunday at 8:08 PM ET (Fox Sports 1).

Here’s how it all went down at Yahoo Sports:

LIVE DECLARATION IS OVER59 updates

  • END: Mets 12, Dodgers 6

    The Mets win the first of three must-win games – and in impressive fashion. They chased down Jack Flaherty, who bullied them in Game 1, and continued to hammer away at a 12-6 victory, though the Dodgers offense still managed to score six runs.

    Now the series returns to Los Angeles, where a more favorable matchup awaits the Mets. The Dodgers could have rested Flaherty for Game 6, but opted to use him tonight, meaning it will likely be a bullpen game against Sean Manaea, who had a great start in Game 2. And in a Game 7 anything can happen.

    Twenty-four hours after looking all but defeated, the Mets have a path to a stunning comeback: their latest stunning comeback.

  • After going 4 2/3 innings off Brent Honeywell, the Dodgers turn to Anthony Banda to get their likely final out of the game. He gets the ball with a groundout from Jeff McNeil.

  • Mets 12, Dodgers 6

    The Mets have more points, thanks to Starling Marte’s fourth goal of the game.

  • Diaz makes it look easy in the eighth.

  • It is indeed Edwin Diaz for the eighth and possibly ninth inning. Whatever reason the Mets use him in this spot, the top echelon of the Dodgers probably won’t mind taking a look at him ahead of Game 6.

  • Francisco Lindor walks in the leadoff and then starts jumping back and forth with Brandon Nimmo at the plate. He may have danced a little too much, as Honeywell picked him for the first of the bottom of the seventh.

  • The Dodgers go down in order in the top of the seventh inning and suddenly have only six outs to score six runs. Edwin Diaz is warming up now, possibly for a two-inning outing.

    That may sound like the Mets are being aggressive, but they probably also want to keep the nearest one warm. He hasn’t pitched since Game 2, and you don’t want him to go five days without pitching before Game 6.

  • Mets 11, Dodgers 6

    The Mets get some breathing room with a sacrifice fly by Jeff McNeil, set up by a Starling Marte double. Citi Field can breathe a little easier.

  • The Dodgers keep Brent Honeywell in for his third inning. They may be on the grand slam of a shocking comeback, but it appears the bigger priority is still keeping their best bullpen arms for Game 6.

  • Mets 10, Dodgers 6

    INTERESTING … Mookie Betts leads off the sixth inning with a homer off Ryne Stanek. This could be an exciting few innings for Citi Field.

  • Brent Honeywell posts a 1-2-3, four-pitch fifth inning. If there is momentum, it is now on the Dodgers’ side, but the question is whether the target is too far away.

  • Mets 10, Dodgers 5

    Interesting… Andy Pages hits his second home run of the day, with his second bat flip of the day, and this game is getting closer now. You’d still prefer to be in the Mets’ position, but this is no longer an ordinary day at the office.

  • Kiké Hernández takes a 97.1 mph sinker to Reed Garrett’s right bicep and was definitely in some pain, but he stays in.

    Some Citi Field fans enjoyed seeing that after Honeywell’s two HBPs.

  • The nice thing about this game for the Mets is that the rest of this series doesn’t go well for the Dodgers. Unless they want to give both Walker Buehler and Yoshinobu Yamamoto a short rest in Games 6 and 7, it will be a bullpen matchup in Game 6 against Sean Manaea, who was great in Game 2.

    And anything could happen in Game 7, namely Buehler or Yamamoto vs. Luis Severino. This was a quiet, important game for the Dodgers after they opted to start Flaherty instead of playing the bullpen game today.

  • Mets 10, Dodgers 2

    It’s a complete reverse score in Game 4 after a sac-fly by Brandon Nimmo.

  • Brent Honeywell Jr. also hits Tyrone Taylor. This is certainly not intentional, but he’s not making any friends with the Mets today.

  • Mets9, Dodgers2

    Jesse Winker hits a triple, and Pete Alonso hoists and blows his way to score from first base. Still no out for the Mets in the bottom of the fourth. The Dodgers at this point are just trying to get through this game without using any of their best relievers.

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