Mets save season with rout of Dodgers to send NLCS back to LA for Game 6

Pete Alonso belted an early three-run homer and the New York Mets defeated an ineffective Jack Flaherty to extend the National League Championship Series with a 12-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 on Friday.

Starling Marte had three doubles, four hits and three RBIs for New York. Francisco Alvarez broke out of a slump with three hits, including an RBI single in a five-run third inning. Francisco Lindor and Jesse Winker each had an RBI triple.

After being shut out in three of the first four games, including the last two nights at home, the wild-card Mets saved their season for the second time in these playoffs – both with the help of a three-run shot from Alonso. They closed their series deficit to 3-2 and sent the best-of-seven NLCS back to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Sunday.

Sean Manaea is expected to head to New York on five days’ rest, while the Dodgers will likely return to a bullpen game due to a thin rotation that has been decimated by injuries.

With the chance to pitch his hometown team in the World Series, Flaherty flopped. After pitching seven shutout innings of two-hit ball in a Game 1 victory, he fell behind by four batters, 3-0, when Alonso launched a low slider 400 feet to center field for his fourth home run this postseason ‘.

Alonso, poised to become a prized free agent this fall, also connected on a lead that eliminated the Mets in Game 3 of their wild-card series in Milwaukee. That one was more dramatic, as New York trailed 2-0 and reached the final two outs in the ninth.

But once again, Alonso dug deep to extend his tenure in a Mets uniform.

Flaherty allowed eight runs and eight hits in three innings. He failed to strike out a batter for the first time since a September 2022 game with St. Louis against Pittsburgh.

After striking out 12 on Thursday night, the Mets didn’t whiff once in Game 5.

With an 8-1 lead, New York starter David Peterson was unable to make it through the fourth inning.

Dodgers rookie Andy Pages homered twice and drove in four runs. Mookie Betts went deep for the second straight game and helped Los Angeles cut an eight-point deficit to 10-6.

But then relievers Ryne Stanek and Edwin Díaz took care of business, and the Mets put this one away. Stanek worked a career-high two and a third innings for the win, and Díaz retired six without allowing a run.