Where does NLCS Game 5 scoring surge rank in Mets history?

The 2024 National League Championship Series (NLCS) between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets has been quite the thrill ride, packed with plenty of runs and exciting moments. Even though four of the games before Game 5 were one-sided, there was still no shortage of action to keep fans on the edge of their seats.

Game 5, held at Citi Field in New York, kicked off with a bang. Pete Alonso, a powerhouse hitter for the Mets, launched a massive three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning against Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty. From that point on, the Mets took control of the game, racking up an impressive 11 runs within the first six innings. The Dodgers did manage to stay competitive, but ultimately, the Mets emerged victorious with a score of 12-6.

While the Mets are still trailing in the series 3-2 and will need to shift their focus to Los Angeles for Game 6 on October 20, it’s worth taking a moment to celebrate their explosive offense showcased in Game 5. Let’s break down how they achieved those 12 runs and see where this performance ranks in their playoff history.

Mets’ Scoring Breakdown

First Inning

The game started with Francisco Lindor at bat, and he received a warm welcome from the crowd singing his walk-up song, “My Girl,” which had been performed live before the game. Lindor hit a single to right field, and after Brandon Nimmo walked, Pete Alonso stepped up and blasted a 432-foot homer to center field.

Score: Mets 3, Dodgers 0

Third Inning

The Dodgers managed to score a run in the second inning, but the Mets took off in the third. Alonso walked again, followed by Jesse Winker, who also earned a walk. Then, Starling Marte hit a double, bringing both of them home. The Mets kept the momentum going, with Francisco Alvarez adding a single that scored Marte, and Lindor hitting a triple that allowed Alvarez to score from first base. Brandon Nimmo capped off the inning with a single, bringing Lindor home.

Score: Mets 8, Dodgers 1

Fourth Inning

The Dodgers scored again in the fourth thanks to a solo home run from rookie Andy Pages. But the Mets kept it rolling when Alonso was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Winker hit a triple, bringing Alonso home. Although Marte grounded out, Winker managed to score when Jeff McNeil hit a sacrifice fly to center.

Score: Mets 10, Dodgers 2

Sixth Inning

Pages hit his second home run of the game, and while Mookie Betts added another for the Dodgers, the Mets were still on fire. After Winker was hit by a pitch, Marte hit a double, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Though Tyrone Taylor couldn’t bring Winker home with his fly out, McNeil’s sacrifice fly did the trick.

Score: Mets 11, Dodgers 6

Eighth Inning

In the eighth, Alonso got things going again with a single, followed by Winker’s single, which moved Alonso to third base. Marte then stepped up to hit a single that scored Alonso. At this point, the Mets didn’t need any more runs to secure their win.

Final Score: Mets 12, Dodgers 6

Mets’ Playoff Scoring History

This impressive scoring performance ranks as one of the Mets’ highest playoff outputs:

How Does This Game Rank?

While the Mets scored 12 runs, making it one of their highest playoff scoring games ever, it’s worth noting that it doesn’t even crack the top 25 highest scores by a playoff team. The record for most runs in a playoff game is held by the Boston Red Sox, who scored an astonishing 23 runs against the Cleveland Guardians in 1999. The New York Yankees also feature prominently on this list, scoring 19 runs against the Red Sox in 2004 and 18 runs against the New York Giants in 1936.

In short, even though the Mets’ recent performance was remarkable, they still have a way to go to match some of the biggest scoring games in MLB playoff history.