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Pete Alonso golfed an early three-run homer and the New York Mets hammered an ineffective Jack Flaherty, extending the National League Championship Series with a 12-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 on Friday.
"Honestly, I think that not chasing is just a product of executing and approach. I thought we did just an unbelievable job executing all night. We laid off the tough ones and put good swings on the pitches in the zone. I think it's just an incredible effort from the whole group. I mean, it was just unbelievable execution. That's what it boils down to." said Alonso
"You look at the path of everything, it's completely unexplainable, but we're all just happy to have another opportunity to fight another day. And we'll be ready. We love opportunities. This is what we want to continue to play for. Today was all about figure it out, get to Game 6. And we have that opportunity and it's going to be the same mentality: figure it out, get to 7. Like, that's what it is. Survive the day." This was also explained by the Mets' First Baseman.
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 laced an RBI triple.
After getting blown out in three of the first four games, including the past 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 by Alonso. They trimmed 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 start for New York on five days' rest, while the Dodgers are likely to go with another bullpen game because of a thin rotation decimated by injuries.
"We're capable of putting together games like this, especially when 1 through 9, we're clicking, we're not chasing. I thought today we did a really good job with their starter, where he was trying to get us to chase, and we didn't do that. We attacked him when he tried to come in the zone, and we did some damage. But 1 through 9, we've got a good offense. We showed up today. We needed that. Obviously Pete setting the tone in the first inning was important. We just continued to add on." said Mendoza.