(2024) NLCS Game #2 Mets Even Series on Vientos' Grand Slam

Monday- October 14th, 2024- Columbus Day 2024:  After a lifeless Game #1 loss in Los Angeles, the Mets regrouped & recharged the batteries just 17 hours later for Game #2. On a beautiful 73-degree sunny Los Angeles afternoon at Chavez Ravine, 52,926 filled in to Dodger Stadium for the NLCS Game #2.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza went with a rested Sean Manaea, pretty much the Mets ace of the staff on the regular season. Manaea was coming off his Game #3 win over the Phillies, where he gave up one on three hits in seven innings of work. 

MLB Record: The Dodgers pitchers entered the game having tied a post season record with the
1966 Orioles pitching 33 consecutive post season innings.

But today was a problem. Dodger manager Dave Roberts, who's pitching staff has been decimated by injuries, decided to go with a game of relievers like he did in Game #4 of the NLWC series facing elimination to the Padres. That night, eight Dodger pitchers combined for a shut out getting to Game #7.

Former 2006 Met & long time Dodger Shawn Green threw out the ceremonial first pitch to get things started.

Francisco Lindor broke the Mets scoreless streak, by leading off with a HR to right field. It was his second HR of the post season & his seventh RBI. Lindor has reached base in all nine post season games.

In the top of the 2nd, the Dodgers brought in their second pitcher of the day in Landon Knack. Starling Marte led off with a base hit & Jesse Winkler then drew a walk, as he Mets quickly had two base runners. Tyrone Taylor then doubled to left field scoring Marte. 

It was Taylor's first hit of the NLCS, just his fourth hit of the post season & first RBI. With two outs, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts intentionally walked Francisco Lindor.

Grand Slam HR: Mark Vientos stepped in & had a nine pitch at bat, fouling off five pitches
before blooping another Mets post season grand slam, just over the right field wall. Vientos put New York up 6-0, with his third HR of the post season.

Mets Trivia: Vientos now had 11 RBIs, just one behind the franchise post season record of 12 held by Curtis Granderson (2015) & Jon Olerud (1999). His 14 hits are tied for ninth most in a single Mets post season.

Quotes- Mark Vientos: " To be honest I took it personal, I was like, OK you want me up at the plate? I'm going to try to drive in a run. I was trying to simplify the game. I wasn't trying to do too much."

Trivia: The Mets are one of 13 teams in history to have multi-grand slam HRs in a post season.

In the 4th inning, Vientos singled giving him his sixth multi-hit post season game.

In the bottom of the 2nd, the Dodgers got a base hit from Tommy Edman & Manaea walked Enrique Hernandez with two outs. He struck out Andy Pages to end the inning.

In the top of the 3rd, the Mets loaded the bases but the slumping Francisco Alvarez flew out to
center to enter the inning. In the bottom of the 3rd, Manaea struck out Shohei Ohtani for the second time & ended the inning fanning Teoscar Hernandez for his sixth K.

In the bottom of the 5th, after Manaea had seven batters in a row, Max Muncy hit his second HR in as many games, putting LA on the board 6-1.

In the bottom of the 6th, Sean Manaea started out by walking Mookie Betts & Teoscar Hernandez. Freddie Freeman then reached on an error by Jose Iglesias at second loading the bases. Carlos Mendoza went to Phil Maton in the Bullpen.

Will Smith popped up for the first out. Then Tommy Edman singled thru Pete Alonso at first base bringing in two Dodger runs making it 6-3 as the Dodger Stadium crowd went wild. Maton then walked the hot hitting Max Muncy. 

Enrique Hernandez then grounded into a double play Mark Vientos to Jose Iglesias to Pete Alonso. The Dodgers challenged both calls, but they were upheld.

The score remained 6-3. In the bottom of the 8th Ryne Stanek got the first two outs then Tommy Edman collected his third hit of the game, as he singled to center. Max Muncy then drew his second walk of the game. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza went to the bullpen bringing in Edwin Diaz as the tying run came to the plate.

After Muncy stole second, Enrique Hernandez flew out to end the inning.

In the top of the 9th, Pete Alonso drew a one out walk & then stole second base. Starling Marte then collected his third hit of the day, with a single up the middle. Polar Bear Alonso chugged round the bases & slid safely into home ahead of the throw making it a 7-3 game.

In the bottom of the 9th, Edwin Diaz, who could never make it easy for the Mets fans, gave up a leadoff single then walked Shohei Ohtani. But Diaz then struck out Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernandez & Fredie Freeman to end the game. The Mets won it 7-4 with Sean Manaea getting the victory as he went to 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA in this post season.

Manaea went five innings giving up three runs on two hits, walking four & striking out seven. The seven Ks were one more than his NLDS Game #3 total & a personal career post season best.

The Mets bullpen of Phil Maton (1.1) Ryne Stanek (1.1) & Edwin Diaz (1.1) held the Dodgers scoreless on three hits the rest of the way, with four strike outs. Diaz struck out three & earned the save, his second of the post season.

It's on to Citi Field in New York with the series tied at one game each.