MLB Playoff Roundup: Vientos slams, Mets even the series

The Dodgers got the NLCS started off with a best-case-scenario win, downing the Mets so easily that they were able to save all of their top bullpen arms, a crucial development in a series that will likely tax LAs relief corps.

Theres no such thing as a must-win Game 2, but the Mets really needed to avoid another blowout loss, or risk giving the Dodgers a chance to rout them in this series with both a 2-0 lead and a deep, rested bullpen in hand.

Thanks to the work of some of their most vital contributors, the Mets were hardly in trouble on Monday night, and theyll head back to Queens having secured a split in California.

National League Championship Series New York Mets 7, Los Angeles Dodgers 3 (Series tied, 1-1) The story of this Mets season is one of impeccable vibes.

The team has sustained themselves on an almost unfathomable amount of memes, references, and talismans, from Grimace to Jose Iglesias musical career to playoff pumpkins .

They win games and take photos with the OMG sign, and not necessarily in that order.

But vibes can only take you so far.

Even a team having as much fun as the Mets needs good baseball players, and the reason this run has been so surprising is that prior to the season, most onlookers didnt think this club had enough good baseball players to be much better than an average ballclub.

Well, this Mets team stands out from previous iterations not just because of improved vibes, but because theyve taken talented ballplayers and made them better, and theyve done it enough to times to surpass expectations and land in the NLDS.

They moved Francisco Lindor into the leadoff spot midseason and saw him turn into an MVP-caliber player, they saw Mark Vientos bump himself up a grade or two with his hit tool and his power, and they changed Sean Manaeas arm slot and watched him pitch like a front-line starter.

Those are the real reasons the Mets are here, more than any pumpkin or catchy pop remix , and those players are the ones that propelled them to a crucial Game 2 victory.

Lindor wasted no time ensuring that Game 2 went different than Game 1.

Leading off against opener Ryan Brasier, Lindor ripped a high-arching drive to snap the Dodgers 34-inning scoreless streak in emphatic fashion: Dave Roberts went to Landon Knack in the second, hoping the rookie could give his battered pitching staff some length.

The Mets were on Knack from the second he toed the rubber, Starling Marte lining Knacks first pitch for a single to open the second.

Jesse Winker worked a seven-pitch walk, and after Iglesias popped out, Tyrone Taylor doubled the lead with an RBI double.

Knack bounced back to get Francisco Alvarez to pop out, then intentionally walked Lindor rather than face him again, loading the bases with two out for Mark Vientos.

The budding star made Knack and Roberts rue the decision: The biggest swing of Vientos life had the Mets up 6-0 in the blink of an eye.

Vientos breakout may be the most important development of this season for the Mets, with the third baseman morphing from a rookie overmatched in every facet of the game in 2023 to one of the National Leagues most potent young sluggers in the second half of 2024.

Meanwhile, Manaea was continuing his strong playoff run.

He flattened the Dodgers over the games first four frames, allowing just one hit, a Tommy Edman single.

Despite its unimpressive raw characteristics, Manaeas sinker once again proved to be a deadly weapon, inducing another bucket of whiffs and called strikes.

Sean Manaea's 2Ks in the 2nd.

4Ks thru 2.

pic.twitter.com/JZ6hbmYlC4 As Manaea cruised, the Mets kept peppering the Dodger pitching, but couldnt extend their lead.

Knack stayed in for the third and loaded the bases with two out again, but escaped thanks another Alvarez pop out.

Brent Honeywell put two on the fifth, but the Mets didnt capitalize again.

It looked like that failure to turn the game into a laugher could haunt the Mets.

Max Muncy finally got to Manaea with a solo homer in the fifth, making it 6-1.

In the sixth, Manaea walked the first two batters, but got a double-play ball from Freddie Freeman to Iglesias that Iglesias booted.

Manaea gave way to Phil Maton, who got another possible double-play ball to Alonso, which Alonso booted, and suddenly, it was 6-3: After Muncy walked to load the bases, it appeared it all might come undone for New York.

Maton got one to stick, though, getting one last double play ball to Vientos that the defense actually converted to preserve the lead.

That would be the last real bullet the Mets would have to dodge.

Ryne Stanek came on for four outs but put two on in the eighth, so Carlos Mendoza went to Edwin Diaz for a four-out save.

Diaz got out of the eighth, then put the first two batters on in the ninth.

He dialed up three straight strikeouts from there, flattening Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernandez, and Freddie Freeman to end the game.

The Dodgers can argue they won a moral victory, forcing the Mets to use their top relievers, while preserving theirs.

The Mets will be happy with the actual victory.

The NLCS is headed to Queens tied at a one and with everything still to play for..

This article has been shared from the original article on pinstripealley, here is the link to the original article.