Facing Jack Flaherty, who shut them down across seven innings in Game 1, the Mets responded by knocking him around over the course of three innings. Pete Alonso got it started, loudly, with a three-run homer, and five more runs followed in the third inning.
The Dodgers could have been more aggressive in pulling Flaherty, but they clearly decided to do whatever it took to get through the game without using their better bullpen arms. After Flaherty labored through three innings, L.A. replaced him with mop-up man Brent Honeywell Jr., who got the rest of the outs in the game, save for one.
The game was not over after the third inning, though. While the Dodgers were austere with their bullpen, their vaunted offense still did enough damage against the Mets’ middle relief to pull within a grand slam in the sixth inning.
But that was as close as they would get. The Mets decided to take no chances, using set-up man Ryne Stanek and closer Edwin Diaz for the final 12 outs of the game. It was an aggressive move, but with neither reliever having appeared since Game 2 on Monday, the aggression came with the benefit of keeping them warm.
The series will now head back to Los Angeles, where a more favorable matchup awaits the Mets in Game 6. They will likely have Sean Manaea, who shut down the Dodgers in Game 2, going against a bullpen game for the Dodgers. First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET on Sunday (Fox Sports 1).
Here’s how it all went down at Yahoo Sports:
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FINAL: Mets 12, Dodgers 6
The Mets win the first of three must-win games — and in impressive fashion. They chased Jack Flaherty, who bullied them in Game 1, and kept hammering away in a 12-6 victory, though the Dodgers offense still managed to score six runs.
Now the series goes back 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, which means it will likely be a bullpen game against Sean Manaea, who had a great start in Game 2. And anything can happen in a Game 7.
Twenty-four hours after they looked all but defeated, the Mets have a path to a stunning comeback — their latest stunning comeback.
After riding Brent Honeywell for 4 2/3 innings, the Dodgers go to Anthony Banda to get their likely final out of the game. He gets it with a Jeff McNeil groundout.
Mets 12, Dodgers 6
The Mets have more runs, courtesy of Starling Marte’s fourth hit of the game.
Diaz makes it look easy in the eighth.
It’s indeed Edwin Diaz for the eighth and potentially the ninth inning. Whatever reason the Mets are using him in this spot, the top of the Dodgers order probably doesn’t mind getting a look at him ahead of Game 6.
Francisco Lindor draws a leadoff walk, then starts hopping back and forth at first with Brandon Nimmo at the plate. He might have danced a little too much, as Honeywell picks him off for the first out of the bottom of the seventh.
The Dodgers go down in order in the top of the seventh and suddenly have only six outs to score six runs. Edwin Diaz is now warming, potentially for a two-inning appearance.
That might sound like the Mets being aggressive, but they also probably want to keep the closer 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 a little breathing room with a sacrifice fly from Jeff McNeil, set up by a Starling Marte double. Citi Field can breathe a little easier.
The Dodgers are keeping Brent Honeywell in for his third inning. They might be within a grand slam of a shocking comeback, but it looks like the bigger priority is still trying to preserve their top 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 a tense few innings for Citi Field.
Brent Honeywell posts a 1-2-3, four-pitch fifth inning. If momentum exists, it’s on the Dodgers’ side now, but the question is if the target is already too far away.
Andy Pages is the first Dodger rookie with a multi-homer postseason game.
Interesting … Andy Pages hits his second home run of the day, with his second bat flip of the day, and this game just got closer. You’d still rather be in the Mets’ position, but this isn’t a casual day at the office anymore.
Some Citi Field fans enjoyed watching that after Honeywell’s two HBPs.
The fun part for the Mets with this game is the rest of this series doesn’t set up well for the Dodgers. Unless they want to start both Walker Buehler and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on short rest in Games 6 and 7, it’s going to be a bullpen game in Game 6 against Sean Manaea, who was awesome in Game 2.
And anything can happen in Game 7, which would be Buehler or Yamamoto vs. Luis Severino. This was a low-key important game for the Dodgers after they opted to start Flaherty rather than do the bullpen game today.
Mets 10, Dodgers 2
It’s a full reverse of the score in Game 4 after a sac fly from Brandon Nimmo.
Brent Honeywell Jr. hits Tyrone Taylor, too. These definitely aren’t intentional, but he’s making no friends with the Mets today.
Mets 9, Dodgers 2
Jesse Winker hits a triple, and Pete Alonso huffs and puffs his way to score from first. Still no outs for the Mets in the bottom of the fourth. The Dodgers are just trying to get through this game without using any of their top relievers at this point.
