After the Dodgers lost game 5 of the National League championship series 12-6 to the Mets at Citi Field, there was some doubt in everyone’s minds as the boys in blue returned home to Dodger Stadium to play game 6. Up 3-2 in the series, the Dodgers had no choice to turn to another bullpen game after Jack Flaherty started game 5. Did the Dodgers let the Mets creep back into the series? Would the bullpen hold up again? Was Freddie Freeman healthy enough to be penciled into the starting lineup? Would the New York pitching staff continue to walk the world? Would the Dodgers be able to wrap up the series at home and avoid playing a winner-take-all game 7? The Dodgers erased all doubt on Sunday evening as they defeated the Mets 10-5 to win the National League pennant and secure their fourth National League Championship since 2017.
The Dodgers used seven relievers with only one (Blake Treinen) pitching two innings. The Dodgers hit two home runs (Tommy Edman, Will Smith) and were 5 for 17 with runners in scoring position in game 6. Edman had four runs driven in while also winning the NLCS MVP award. It was well deserved as he had 11 runs batted in, which tied a postseason record for a series. Walks killed the Mets, with the Dodgers drawing 42 in the 6-game series.
TOMMY CLUTCH! pic.twitter.com/swSpSxdxDn
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 21, 2024
CAN’T STOP TOMMY. pic.twitter.com/xGsc4TIPGt
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 21, 2024
Michael Kopech was given the ball to open the game, as the Mets turned to Sean Manaea. Kopech was initially erratic in the top of the first. Perhaps it was just first inning nerves as he walked Francisco Lindor, and advanced him to second on a wild pitch. Pete Alonso knocked him in with a ground ball single to Second, which also saw a throwing error from Chris Taylor. CT3 was playing second with Freddie out with the injured ankle, and Max Muncy at first.
The Dodgers responded with two runs in the bottom of the first. Shohei Ohtani singles to center and one out later Teoscar Hernandez singles him to third. Series MVP Edman doubles down the left field line to score both runners and put the Dodgers up 2-1.
Rookie Ben Casparius relieved Kopech to pitch a scoreless top of the second. Casparius stayed in to get two outs in the third before being lifted for Anthony Banda. The Dodgers would score four runs in the bottom of the third and knock Manaea out of the game. Teo led off the inning with a single and Edman homered over the center field wall to put the Dodgers up 4-1. Max Muncy walked and after Manaea was removed, Will Smith smashed a two-run home run off of Phil Maton to give the Dodgers a 6-1 lead. Things looked good.
However nothing is ever easy for the Dodgers (as Vin would say) and doubt began to creep in as the Mets closed the gap in the top of the fourth. After Francisco Alvarez singled, Mark Vientos (a thorn in the Dodgers side this series) homered off of Banda to narrow the score to 6-3. The Mets were still desperate at that point to keep the score 6-3, so they brought in their closer Edwin Diaz, who provided two scoreless innings for New York. The Mets actually loaded the bases in the top of the sixth, but Evan Phillips got Jesse Winker to fly out.
THERE GOES WILL. pic.twitter.com/NI37Id2ycl
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 21, 2024
The Dodgers picked up another run in the bottom of the sixth from an RBI single from Ohtani. Now it’s 7-3 Dodgers. Doubt snuck up on us again when the Mets scored in the top of the seventh. Consecutive one-out singles from Tyrone Taylor and Jeff McNeil, and a sacrifice fly from Alvarez, and the lead was 7-4. The Dodgers are nine outs away from returning to the World Series, but it’s not over yet.
Then Blake Treinen struck out the side in the top of the eighth, and the Dodgers added three additional runs in the bottom half of the eighth. There was a two-run double from Mookie Betts, a sacrifice fly from Teo and an RBI single from Kike. Now it’s 10-4 Dodgers and it’s all over…..right?
BLAKE TREINEN STRIKES OUT THE SIDE. pic.twitter.com/16yTBvwMmJ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 21, 2024
WORLD SERIES BOUND. pic.twitter.com/dSCoZ7IRJR
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 21, 2024
Unstoppable.
Tommy Edman is your NLCS MVP! pic.twitter.com/rUy2oaC2Be
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 21, 2024
THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS ARE THE 2024 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS! pic.twitter.com/Ewz1tkLmYX
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 21, 2024
Move into the top of the ninth. Treinen still on the mound and he strikes out Winker. Two more outs. Marte grounds back to the box and we’re one out away. But then Tyrone Taylor dunks a single to center. McNeil singles to right to score Taylor and the Mets were still fighting. It’s now 10-5. Then Alvarez grounded out to Taylor and the Dodgers win the National League Pennant.
After the game, the Dodgers were presented with the National League championship trophy and Edman was given his NLCS MVP award. Dodger fans celebrated and the Dodgers sprayed the bubble and danced the night away in the clubhouse. This was a really great night for the Dodgers. The last time they clinched a pennant at home was 1988. In 2017 and 2018 they clinched on the road, and in 2020 there were no home games at Dodger Stadium because of COVID. I had tears in my eyes, but I’ll save the real tears when the Dodgers win four more games. The World Series starts on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. It’ll be the Yankee and the Dodgers for the first time since 1981. Celebrate Dodger fans!…All night long!
How sweet it is. 4 more wins. Bring it home boys.