Mets Offense Breaks Out To Force Game 6

The 2024 New York Mets magical season continues thanks to an offensive outburst in Game 5. Staring elimination dead in the eye once again, the Mets had to have the bats wake up in order to keep their season alive and get the ball to Sean Manaea. Not only were they able to put up 12 runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the Mets made some history becoming the 11th team in postseason history to go an entire game without striking out.

“We had a great game plan heading into tonight,” Jesse Winker said. “Francisco, Nimmo, and Pete really set the tone in the first inning. Francisco starting us off with a bullet, Nimmo puts together a great at-bat, and Pete hits a ball off the ground into the apple. So that was pretty sick.”

The approach not only worked, but was historic. The Mets became the 11th team to play a postseason game without striking out, joining the 2002 Angels who were the last team to do it in the World Series against the Giants.

Five different Mets’ had multi-hit games with Pete Alonso and Starling Marte leading the charge with a combined six runs batted in on their way to a 12-6 victory on Friday evening. Francisco Alvarez has been under fire the first four games of the NLCS with lackluster at-bats in key situations, but the 22-year-old  silenced his critics for the time being with a crucial three-hit performance out of the nine-hole.

“Just be short to the ball, be early”, Alvarez said. “If I can hit the fastball it is going to be easier to read the other pitches… They are very happy (Mendoza and Marte) because I am doing good. Marte tells me to keep going and Mendy says let’s keep going, same time tomorrow.”

One of the more intriguing decisions Carlos Mendoza made ahead of Game 5 was electing to start Winker and Jeff McNeil against Jack Flaherty. J.D. Martinez has not been able to find his groove in this series, but Winker has consistently put together quality at-bats when given the opportunity. He was one of the few Mets to record a hit in Game 1, but made his presence known in Game 5 with two hits and three runs.

The same can be said for Jose Iglesias struggling at the plate this series and with McNeil fully healthy he was able to find a spot in the starting lineup for Game 5. McNeil contributed to the offensive attack with a pair of quality at-bats that drove in two runs on sacrifice flies, as he continues to find a groove quickly.

“I feel good, I felt like I took good at-bats today”, McNeil said. “Big game Sunday, obviously must win. The boys are gonna come to play and try to force a Game 7”.

Jack Flaherty previously shut down the Mets lineup in Game 1 only surrendering two hits in seven innings, but the Mets completely flipped the switch in Game 5. With the Dodgers looking to get length out of Flaherty they managed to knock him out of the game in the third inning after giving up eight earned runs over 75 pitches. With the Dodgers seeming to pitch a bullpen game for Game 6 on Sunday, here are a few key names that were used in Game 2 for the same situation: Ryan Brasier, Landon Knack, Anthony Banda, and Edgardo Henriquez.

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