Dodgers 10, Mets 5
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Mets, 10–5 ,in Game Six of the National League Championship Series to advance to the 2024 World Series. After falling behind in the first inning, the boys in blue got the job done at home behind some hot bats. Their season seemed to be slow for the Mets at the start, but after a hot second half, they snuck their way into the postseason. They beat the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies to advance to the NLCS. The Dodgers eliminated the San Diego Padres and now the Mets to face the New York Yankees.
The Dodgers were led by Tommy Edman, who had four RBI on Sunday and led the attack in the four spot. The definitive X-factor for the West Coast Powerhouse was Edman, a trade deadline acquisition.
Dodgers – Mets Game Summary
Game Six opened up for the Mets in a positive start. The Dodgers started Michael Kopech, and he allowed an infield single to Pete Alonso. A throwing error scored Francisco Lindor, giving the Mets an early lead. Sean Manaea got the start for the Mets after an impressive outing last time. However, the Dodgers came out firing. Manaea threw a sweeper, but Tommy Edman ripped a double, scoring Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez.
In the third inning, Edman struck again. A four-seam fastball at the top of the zone got crushed; a two-run blast to give the Dodgers a boost. Phil Maton came in later in the inning, but catcher Will Smith found his pitch. A sinker belted by Smith added two more runs for the Dodgers, scoring himself and Max Muncy. In the fourth inning, Ryan Brasier came in to face Mark Vientos. Vientos smashed a two-run home run to give the Mets a chance back in the game.
TOMMY EDMAN!
HE’S DRIVEN IN ALL FOUR @DODGERS RUNS TONIGHT! #NLCS pic.twitter.com/qlZSadVZMU
— MLB (@MLB) October 21, 2024
Closing the Game Out
In the bottom of the sixth, Ryan Stanek came in for the Mets, but faced Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani ripped a single off of a fastball, scoring Will Smith. The Mets got the one run back in the seventh. Daniel Hudson allowed a sacrifice fly from Francisco Alvarez allowing Tyrone Taylor to score. In the bottom of the eighth, the Dodgers put the game to bed. Kodai Senga came in for the Mets and had a meltdown. Mookie Betts doubled, scoring Chris Taylor. Teoscar Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly to score Ohtani, and Enrique Hernandez singled off of a fastball to score Edman. In the ninth, the Mets added the last run, when Jeff McNeil singled off of Blake Treinen to score Tyrone Taylor. Alvarez grounded out to second, giving the Dodgers their first World Series berth since 2020.
Mark Vientos now holds the @Mets single-season #postseason record with 14 RBI ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/UXyhB80nmb
— MLB (@MLB) October 21, 2024
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What Went Right for the Mets
Offense Did Enough
The Mets found their offense to do enough if they pitched better. Scoring five runs, hitting a sacrifice fly, home run, infield single. The offense did enough for their pitchers.
Bottom of the Lineup
The Mets’ bottom third of the lineup put in an impressive performance. Tyrone Taylor, Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez combined for a 6-for-12 day, and did all they could to extend the Mets for a Game Seven.
What Went Wrong for the Mets
Sean Manaea
After spinning an impressive performance last time out, Manaea did the opposite of what the Big Apple team needed. In two innings, the left handed pitcher gave up six hits, five earned runs, two walks and two strikeouts. The Dodgers got to him, and gave his team a big hole early.
Fell Behind Early
The Mets trailed 5–1 at the end of the third. To fall behind at Dodger Stadium is horrible for a road team, especially in the playoffs. They couldn’t muster another tie or lead after the end of the first inning.
What Went Right for the Dodgers
Tommy Edman
The X-Factor for the Dodgers this series is Tommy Edman. The NLCS MVP had four RBI on Sunday and went 2-for-5. His home run and double added two RBI in both XBHs. Filling in at shortstop, his versatility is a big factor for his value for the Dodgers.
Spread the Wealth
Although Tommy Edman had four RBI, five other players had a RBI. It was all going well for ten runs scored by the Dodgers, including the four runs in the third and three runs in the eighth.
What Went Wrong for the Dodgers
Andy Pages
Andy Pages did well in Game Five of the NLCS, adding two home runs at Citi Field. In Game Six, he went 0-for-5 in centerfield. Filling in after Freddie Freeman is absent from the lineup, he did not add any value.
Quick Hits
Ohtani and Muncy On Base
Shohei Ohtani tallied two hits and drew a walk, reaching safely 17 times in the NLCS. With his single in the sixth inning, he reached safely 16 times in the series, setting a new Dodgers single-series record in the postseason. Max Muncy also reached 17 times in the series, reaching twice tonight via a pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch.
Edman MVP
Tommy Edman was named NLCS MVP after hitting safely in all six games of the series going 11-for-27 (.407) with a homer, 11 RBI, three doubles, five runs scored, a stolen base and a 1.023 OPS. Other Dodgers to win NLCS MVP include: Corey Seager (2020); Cody Bellinger (2018); Chris Taylor (2017); Justin Turner (2017); Orel Hershiser (1988); Burt Hooton (1981); Steve Garvey (1978); and Dusty Baker (1977).
Vientos Record
Mark Vientos hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning, marking his 13th and 14th RBI of the postseason, setting the Mets’ single-Postseason mark. He surpassed by John Olerud in 1999 and Curtis Granderson in 2015, who each drove home 12 RBI in the Postseason. Vientos is the sixth player in postseason history aged 24-or-younger with at least 14 RBI in a single Postseason, joining B.J. Upton (16 RBI in 2008); Kyle Tucker (15 RBI in 2021); Albert Pujols (14 RBI in 2004); Carlos Correa (14 RBI in 2017); and Juan Soto (14 RBI in 2019). Overall, Vientos hit .327 (18-for-55) with five homers, 14 RBI, two doubles, three walks, eight runs scored, a .362 on-base percentage and a .998 OPS this Postseason.
Dodgers Run Differential
The Dodgers outscored the Mets 46-26 (+20) in the series, marking the third time in LCS (AL or NL) history that a club outscored their opponent by at least 20 runs in the series. Previously, the 1996 Atlanta Braves outscored the St. Louis Cardinals by 26 runs in a seven-game series and the 2017 Dodgers outscored the Chicago Cubs by 20 runs in a five-game series.
Quotes
“That’s it. That’s it. Obviously we’re going to celebrate tonight, as we should. I think the whole world was looking forward or hoping for this potential match-up, this showdown. It’s going to be great. They’re a very talented team. But I think for us, it’s kind of one game at a time but appreciating the fact that we’ve still got four wins to take care of business.” — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on the mentality for getting four more wins.
“Obviously it stinks because you want to keep going. But I just told the guys how proud I was because of not only we became a really good team, we became a family. And now we raised the bar. Expectations now, you know, this is what we should strive for every year, to be playing deep into October. And we showed that this year.” — Mets manager Carlos Mendoza on thoughts about this season
Looking Ahead
Ben Casparius earned the win for the Dodgers, while Sean Manaea earned the loss.
The New York Yankees will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game One on Friday, October 25. The Dodgers and Yankees have not announced their starting pitchers yet. With five days of rest, it will be the best starters possible for both teams. The last time the Dodgers and Yankees played in the World Series, it was 1981.
