The Alonso-ignited Mets stay alive and beat the Dodgers in NLCS Game 5

NEW YORK – Pete Alonso hit an early three-run home run and the New York Mets beat 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.

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 had an RBI triple.

The Mets' 12 runs were just shy of the most in a postseason game in franchise history (13 in Game 3 of the 2015 NL Division Series against the Dodgers). They had their best performance in a postseason game while facing elimination.

“I think it's about momentum, and we're taking the momentum back today,” Alvarez told Fox after the game. “So we have to continue with the two games in Los Angeles.”

After suffering blowouts in three of the first four games, including the final two nights at home, the wild-card Mets salvaged their season for the second time in these playoffs – both with the help of a three-run throw from Alonso. They cut 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 a five-day break, while the Dodgers will likely play another bullpen game due to a thin rotation decimated by injuries.

When Flaherty had the opportunity to send his hometown team to the World Series, he failed. After throwing seven shutout innings of two-hit ball in a Game 1 win, he was down 3-0 with four batters when Alonso launched a low slider 432 feet to center field for his fourth home run of the postseason.

Alonso, who is on track to become a coveted free agent this fall, also scored as the Mets were eliminated in Game 3 of their Wild Card Series in Milwaukee. The game was more dramatic, with New York trailing 2-0 entering the final two outs of the ninth.

But again, Alonso did everything he could to extend his tenure in a Mets uniform.

Flaherty allowed eight runs and eight hits in three innings. He failed to hit a batter for the first time since a game with St. Louis against Pittsburgh in September 2022.

After striking out 12 times on Thursday night, the Mets didn't strike out once in Game 5. This is the first time this has happened in the postseason since Game 2 of the 2002 World Series, when the Los Angeles Angels fell short against the Mets and San Francisco Giants. The Mets, along with the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates (both in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series), were the only teams not eliminated in elimination games.

“We came in with the same mentality: win this game and get back to LA,” Diaz told Fox after the game. “We played really good baseball against a really good team. At the end of the day, the guys did their job and the bullpen did its job. And we got the W.”

With New York starter David Peterson leading 8-1, he was unable to get through to the fourth period.

Dodgers rookie Andy Pages hit two home runs and drove in four runs. Mookie Betts went deep for the second straight game to help Los Angeles cut an eight-run deficit to 10-6.

But then relievers Ryne Stanek and Edwin Díaz calmed down, and the Mets put that point away. Stanek earned the victory by pitching a career-best 2⅓ innings, and Díaz struck out six without allowing a run.

Information from ESPN Research and The Associated Press was used in this report.