Mets Take Game 2
The Mets took the second game of the 2024 NLCS, 7-3, behind a pair of big homers from Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos. It is the third time in Postseason history that a club hit a leadoff home run and a grand slam in the same game (h/t @SlangsOnSports). New York is the first club to accomplish the feat since the Orioles in Game 1 of the 1996 ALDS. The first club to ever accomplish the feat is the Yankees, who did so in Game 5 of the 1953 World Series, also against the Dodgers.
Since the LCS moved to its current seven-game format in 1985, the winner of the second game of the NLCS has advanced to the Fall Classic 23 times (59.0%). This is the 29th time that the NLCS has been even at a game apiece, regardless of series length (best-of-five or best-of-seven). Nine of the last 16 NLCS matchups, including this year, have been 1-1 after two games. Most recently the Dodgers split the first two games of the NLCS in 2018 with Milwaukee and New York most recently split the first two games of the 2006 NLCS against St. Louis. In the seven-game era of the LCS (AL or NL) since 1985, 12 series have gone the distance after being tied 1-1, including the 2018 NLCS, 2012 NLCS, 2008 ALCS, 2007 ALCS, 2006 NLCS, 2003 ALCS, 2003 NLCS, 1996 NLCS, 1991 NLCS, 1988 NLCS, 1987 NLCS and 1986 ALCS .
Spark Plug
Francisco Lindor started the game with a leadoff home run, taking Ryan Brasier’s 2-2 pitch to deep right field to make it 1-0. It was the 19th leadoff home run in NLCS history and the first since Kyle Schwarber’s leadoff blast in Game 1 of last year’s NLCS. Along with Schwarber’s homer in Game 3 of the 2022 NLCS, there has now been a leadoff home run in three consecutive NLCS. Along with leadoff homers in the 2018, 2019 and 2020 NLCS, there has now been a leadoff home run in six of the last seven NLCS.
Lindor’s blast was the Mets’ sixth Postseason leadoff homer and their first Curtis Granderson in Game 5 of the 2015 World Series. Other Mets with a leadoff Postseason homer include José Reyes (2006 NLCS, G6); Lenny Dykstra (1986 WS, G3); Wayne Garrett (1973 WS, G3); and Tommie Agee (1969 WS, G3). The New York’s six Postseason grand slams are tied with the Dodgers for second-most all-time, trailing only the Yankees and Phillies, who each have seven Postseason grand slams. Of the group, the Mets are the only club with a Postseason leadoff homer from six different players (h/t @SlangsOnSports).
After lifting two leadoff homers this year on June 16th against San Diego and August 17th against Miami, Lindor now has 21 career leadoff home runs, including his first career Postseason leadoff home run today.
With his homer, Lindor has now reached in all nine of New York’s Postseason games this year. He is the eighth Mets player to reach safely in at least nine consecutive games to begin a Postseason and the first to do so since Curtis Granderson and Daniel Murphy each reached in all 14 games of the Mets’ 2015 World Series run.
With the homer, the Mets snapped the Dodgers’ 33.0 scoreless innings streak. Los Angeles set the NL record for the longest scoreless innings streak in a single Postseason and tied the Major League record, set by the 1966 Baltimore Orioles, who threw 33.0 consecutive scoreless innings in Games 1-4 of the World Series, coincidentally against the Dodgers. The Dodgers entered the series with the fourth-longest streak (24.0 IP) in Postseason history and surpassed the 1905 New York Giants (28.0 IP, WS G 2-5) and the 1974 Oakland Athletics (30.0 IP, ALCS G 1-4).
Make It Grand
With two outs in the second inning Mark Vientos ended a nine-pitch battle with a grand slam to put the Mets ahead 6-0. The grand slam marked the third in Mets’ Postseason history following Francisco Lindor’s grand slam in the sixth inning of Game 4 in the NLDS last week against Philadelphia and Edgardo Alfonzo’s blast in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the 1999 NLDS against Arizona.
The Mets are the 13th club with multiple grand slams within the same Postseason and the first since the Texas Rangers also clubbed two grand slams last year en route to winning the World Series.
Other clubs with multiple grand slams within the same Postseason include the 2021 Red Sox (three grand slams); the 2020 Yankees; the 2016 Cubs; the 2013 Red Sox; the 2011 Diamondbacks (three grand slams); the 1998 Braves; the 1992 Braves; the 1987 Twins; the 1977 Dodgers; the 1970 Orioles; and the 1956 Yankees. Of the 12 clubs who have previously hit multiple grand slams in a Postseason, five have gone on to win the World Series, including the 2016 Cubs; the 2013 Red Sox; the 1987 Twins; the 1970 Orioles; and the 1956 Yankees.
The blast marked his first career grand slam and he is the first player since Bryson Stott (2023 WC, G2) to hit a Postseason grand slam for his first career grand slam. Per Elias, he is one of 13 players to accomplish the feat including Jordan Luplow (10/8/2021); Ronald Acuña Jr. (10/7/2018); Paul Goldschmidt (10/4/2011); Shane Victorino (10/2/2008); Kazuo Matsui (10/4/2007); Mark Lewis (10/6/1995); Ron Gant (10/7/1992); José Canseco (10/15/1988); Mike Cuellar (10/3/1970); Chuck Hiller (10/8/1962); and Bobby Richardson (10/8/1960).
Quite The Start
Through his first nine career Postseason games, Mark Vientos is batting .378 (14-for-37) with three homers, 11 RBI, two doubles, two walks, six runs scored, a .410 on-base percentage and a 1.086 OPS.
He registered his sixth multi-hit game which are tied for the most ever in a single Postseason in Mets’ history with John Olerud (1999) and Todd Zeile (2000). The trio has the second-most ever multi-hit games overall behind only Edgardo Alfonzo and Cleon Jones, who each had seven career multi-hit games during their Mets’ tenures. Marty Barrett (1986), Troy Glaus (2002) and Marquis Grissom (1996) hold the single-Postseason record with nine multi-hit games each. Hall of Famer Derek Jeter’s 58 career multi-hit games in the Postseason are the most ever.
Move the Line
Each player in the Mets starting lineup safely reached base today, marking the second time this Postseason that every batter in New York’s starting lineup reached base after also doing so in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against Milwaukee. Overall it is the sixth time in Mets’ Postseason history that each batter in the starting lineup reached base safely after they also accomplished the feat on October 30, 2015 (G3 WS); October 15 2006 (G4 NLCS); October 11, 2000 (G1 NLCS); and October 17, 1973 (G4 WS).
Ed(win)
Edwin DÃaz saw his first action since closing out the NLDS against Philadelphia, converting a four-out save today to secure the win. He entered in the eighth inning with the potential tying run at the plate and got Kiké Hernández to fly out to end the inning. He is the sixth pitcher (10th occurrence) in Mets’ Postseason history to record a save of more than three outs and the first since Jeurys Familia did so in Game 1 of the 2015 NLCS (1.1 IP). Familia also did it in Game 5 of the 2015 NLDS (2.0 IP) and Game 1 of the 2015 NLDS (1.1 IP).
Magic Max
For the second straight game, Max Muncy opened the scoring for Los Angeles, hitting a solo homer in the fifth inning. The blast marked his 12th career Postseason homer, breaking a tie with Hall of Famer Duke Snider for the third-most in Dodgers’ Postseason history. Muncy only trails Corey Seager and Justin Turner, who each clubbed 13 Postseason homers in their Dodgers’ tenure.
(Man)aea
Sean Manaea dominated for the first 5.0 innings, allowing just one run on two hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. After earning his first career Postseason win in Game 3 of the NLDS against Philadelphia, he is now 2-0 this Postseason. Manaea is the first Mets’ pitcher to win backto-back Postseason starts since Noah Syndergaard won Game 2 of the 2015 NLCS and Game 3 of the 2015 World Series. Overall, he is the seventh New York starter with at least a two-game winning streak in a single Postseason, joining Syndergaard; Jacob deGrom (2015); Matt Harvey (2015); Hall of Famer Tom Glavine (2006); Mike Hampton (2000); and Jerry Koosman (1969). Of the group, deGrom is the only Mets’ starter to win three consecutive starts in the Postseason.
Left ‘Em Out There
Both clubs finished the game with 10 runners left on base as both sides were able to work out of multiple jams in the game. It marked the first Postseason game in which both clubs left at least 10 runners on base since October 15, 2022 when Houston (14) and Seattle (10) played an 18-inning marathon. The last time it happened in a nine-inning game was between the Mets (10) and Padres (10) on October 8, 2022. Overall, it was the 15th time in Mets’ Postseason history that they stranded at least 10 runners while going on to win the game.
Three-Trick Ponies
Starling Marte tallied three hits in today’s game, coming up with an RBI single in the ninth inning to extend the Mets’ lead. Marte is the second New York hitter with a three-hit game this Postseason joining Mark Vientos, who tallied three hits in Game 2 of the NLDS at Philadelphia. Entering the day, Marte was 4-for-24 (.167) this Postseason and has raised his average to .241 in October.
Tommy Edman collected three of the Dodgers’ five hits, marking the most hits in a game by a Los Angeles batter this Postseason. His three hits are the most since Will Smith tallied three hits in Game 3 of the NLDS last year at Arizona. It was the first time a Dodgers’ hitter had a three-hit game at Dodger Stadium since Chris Taylor had four hits in Game 5 of the 2021 NLCS against Atlanta.
Upon Further Review
In the sixth inning, Los Angeles rallied as they loaded the bases with a pair of walks and Freddie Freeman reached on an error. Tommy Edman brought home two runs with an RBI single to make it 6-3 before Kiké Hernández grounded into an inning-ending double play. The double play was challenged by the Dodgers, with the force outs at first and second base both being confirmed. The Mets used a challenge in the fifth inning which resulted in an overturned call that determined Tyrone Taylor was hit-by-pitch.
