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:
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