The Mets offense erupts to force Game 6

The New York Mets' magical 2024 season continues thanks to an offensive outburst in Game 5. With the Mets once again on the brink of elimination, they needed to wake up the bats to keep their season alive and get the ball Sean Manaea. Not only were they able to score 12 runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the Mets also made some history by becoming the 11th team in postseason history to go an entire game without a strikeout.

“We had a great game plan tonight.” Jesse blinker said. “Francisco, Nimmo and Pete really set the tone in the first inning. Francisco starts us off with a ball, Nimmo makes a great shot and Pete hits a ball from the ground into the apple. So that was pretty sick.”

Jeff McNeil. Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

The approach not only worked, but was also historic. The Mets became the 11th team to play a postseason game without a strikeout, joining the 2002 Angels as the last team to do so in the World Series against the Giants.

Five different Mets had multi-hit games with Pete Alonso And Starling Marte They led the charge with a total of six runs batted in en route to a 12-6 win Friday night. Francisco Alvarez was under fire in the first four NLCS games for poor hitting in key situations, but the 22-year-old silenced his critics for now with a game-winning three-shot performance at the nine-hole.

“Just be quick on the ball and get there early,” Alvarez said. “If I can hit the fastball, it will be easier to read the other pitches… They're very happy (Mendoza and Marte) because I'm doing well. Marte tells me to keep going and Mendy says let’s keep going, same time tomorrow.”

One of the more interesting decisions Carlos Mendoza made before Game 5 was the decision to start Winker and Jeff McNeil against Jack Flaherty. JD Martinez hasn't managed to find his groove in this series, but Winker has consistently put together quality hitting when given the opportunity. He was one of the few Mets to record a hit in Game 1, but drew attention in Game 5 with two hits and three runs.

The same also applies to Jose Iglesias He struggled at the plate in this series, and with McNeil fully healthy, he was able to earn a spot in the starting lineup for Game 5. McNeil contributed to the offensive attack with two quality at-bats that drove in two runs on sacrifice flies as he continues to quickly find his groove.

“I feel good, I felt like I hit some good shots today,” McNeil said. “Of course we have to win the big game on Sunday. The guys are going to come play and try to force a Game 7.”

Previously, Jack Flaherty had shut out the Mets' lineup in Game 1, allowing just two hits in seven innings, but in Game 5 the Mets completely flipped the switch. As the Dodgers tried 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 apparently planning 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 BandaAnd Edgardo Henriquez.