Francisco Alvarez's adjustments at the plate paid off in the Mets' win in NLCS Game 5

It wasn't too long ago that Mets fans were clamoring for a manager Carlos Mendoza put young backstop on the bench Francisco Alvarez.

To be fair, Alvarez experienced a massive slump this postseason, particularly in the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers. After Game 3, Alvarez was 1-for-10 with a walk and three strikeouts. And it wasn't just his box score, the catcher looked lost at the plate. Game 3 was the perfect example of this, as Alvarez struck out three times and turned heads.

When Mendoza was asked about a possible start Luis Torrens For a crucial Game 4, the Mets' first-year captain immediately said Alvarez was playing.

This trust in his young catcher has apparently paid off. After Alvarez had a hit and reached base twice in Game 4, the 22-year-old turned in his best performance of the season on Friday. Alvarez went 3-for-4 and helped the Mets avoid elimination in Game 5.

“The most important thing (I told him) is to keep it simple,” Mendoza explained after the win. “Don’t swing too hard, be short to the ball and be on time. Basically: relax. I know that when you have problems, you have a lot of people on your ear.”

“He's a really good player. I said it and now he shows it. He’s a big part of this team.”

Alvarez reiterated the adjustments he had to make to SNY's Steve Gelbs on the court after Game 5, but also referenced Mendoza and his teammate Starling Marte — who the young backstop said he took aside after Game 3 — were pleased with his progress.

“They are very happy because I'm doing well and Marte says 'keep going' and Mendy told me after the game 'let's keep going' in the next game,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez doubled in his first at-bat, but his two-out RBI single off a slider in the zone during the Mets' five-run third inning was huge in keeping the line moving.

Marte was asked after the game what the biggest difference he saw over Alvarez over the last two games was, and the veteran outfielder reflected on his place in baseball and with the Mets.

“The biggest difference was his confidence,” Marte said. “He's the type of player you can tell him something and he'll make it happen. That's a good thing to take away from having these conversations with young players. They listen to you and then try to achieve something.” it’s true.

“It might not be the first or second day, but they tend to pick it up. For us veterans, it is a pleasure to be able to have conversations with these young people because you know that they are listening and want to help the team.”

In his first 10 postseason games, Alvarez scored five goals. He's made it to four in the last two games, and it's the perfect time for the Mets, who now travel to Los Angeles for Game 6 in hopes of forcing a win in Game 7 of the NLCS, where it's just about the winner.