MLB Roundup: Mets Defeat Dodgers to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive, Yankees Edge Closer to Postseason

The New York Mets continued their remarkable season by defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 12-6 on Friday, keeping their hopes alive in the Major League Baseball playoff series.

Pete Alonso launched a three-run home run in the first inning, and the Mets scored five runs in the third, establishing an 8-1 advantage. They managed to maintain this lead, narrowing the series deficit to 3-2 in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series.

The Dodgers, who aimed to conclude the series at Citi Field, will now host game six on Sunday, still seeking a return to the World Series for the first time since their championship victory in 2020.

"We'll be ready," Alonso asserted. "We thrive on opportunities."

Andy Pages contributed significantly for the Dodgers, hitting two home runs, including a three-run shot that reduced New York's lead to 10-5 in the fifth inning. Mookie Betts added a solo homer in the sixth, bringing the Dodgers within four runs, but the Mets managed to hold their ground.

Starling Marte excelled for New York, hitting three doubles and driving in three runs from four hits. Francisco Lindor and Jesse Winker also contributed with triples, as the Mets recorded 14 hits without any strikeouts.

The victor of this series will face either the New York Yankees or the Cleveland Guardians in the World Series.

The Yankees, propelled by a three-run homer from Giancarlo Stanton and a pair of crucial runs in the top of the ninth, triumphed over the Guardians 8-6, taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the American League Championship Series.

With their season on the line, the Mets came out aggressively.

They quickly established a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, thanks to Alonso's impressive home run to center field, which also brought Lindor and Brandon Nimmo across the plate.

The Dodgers responded by scoring a run in the second inning when Enrique Hernandez dashed home on a wild pitch from Mets pitcher David Peterson to Shohei Ohtani.

The Mets intensified their efforts in the third inning when Marte capitalized on Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty's decision to walk Alonso and Winker at the beginning of the frame. Marte hit a double down the left field line, driving in both runners.

Flaherty managed to retire two batters, but the Mets then strung together three consecutive hits that resulted in runs, extending their lead to 8-1.

In the fourth inning, Peterson allowed a solo home run to Pages as the Dodgers continued to apply pressure. However, the Mets responded by increasing their lead to 10-2 with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, and Los Angeles was unable to recover.

Yankees on the verge
In Cleveland, Stanton delivered his fourth home run of the postseason, propelling the Yankees forward with a three-run shot off Guardians relief pitcher Cade Smith, which put the Yankees ahead 6-2 in the sixth inning.

Smith had issued a walk to Juan Soto to start the inning. Yankees star Aaron Judge followed with a single, and a sacrifice bunt by Jazz Chisholm set the stage for Stanton, who sent a fastball soaring 404 feet into the left field stands.

The Yankees, reeling from the Guardians' dramatic comeback victory in game three on Thursday, quickly established a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, courtesy of Soto's two-run homer.

Austin Wells also contributed a home run for the Yankees, but the Guardians rallied with three runs in the seventh inning, narrowing the score to 6-5.

Cleveland equalized at 6-6 in the eighth when David Fry's soft infield hit was mishandled by Yankees pitcher Mark Leiter, whose throw went awry, allowing Fry to advance to second base while Bo Naylor, who had doubled to start the inning, scored.

The Yankees, aiming to return to the World Series for the first time since their 27th championship in 2009, managed to score two runs in the top of the ninth against Cleveland's ace closer Emmanuel Clase, securing the victory.

They have the opportunity to clinch the series with a win in game five on Saturday.

"The key is to go play one more game - go out there and try to win that game," Soto remarked. "Forget about the series, just focus on winning the game ... that's all we need to do."