LOS ANGELES, CA — In a tense back-and-forth battle at Dodger Stadium, Francisco Álvarez snapped a month-long RBI drought with a clutch double in the 10th inning, propelling the New York Mets to a 4–3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night.
Francisco Lindor added to the momentum with a key RBI single in the same frame, after launching a leadoff home run earlier in the game—his 14th of the season. The Mets have now won eight of their last nine games, opening this National League Championship Series rematch with a dramatic edge.
Shohei Ohtani continued his torrid power surge, crushing a 424-foot homer in the seventh inning—his 23rd of the season—to tie Seattle’s Cal Raleigh for the MLB lead. He later delivered a game-tying sacrifice fly in the ninth, briefly neutralizing the Mets’ lead.
Despite the blown save by Edwin Díaz—his first in 14 opportunities this year—the Mets bounced back in extras. Álvarez, who hadn’t driven in a run since May 4, broke through with a sharp double to right off Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott. Lindor followed by plating pinch-runner Starling Marte, giving the Mets a 4–2 cushion.
The Dodgers clawed back again in the bottom of the 10th. José Castillo walked Freddie Freeman, who later scored on Andy Pages’ single. But with the tying run 90 feet away, José Buttó shut the door by snagging a comebacker from Tommy Edman for the final out, earning his first save of the season.
Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn looked sharp in his return from injury, throwing five scoreless innings while striking out Shohei Ohtani twice. It was his first major league outing since last August, after missing time due to back and knee injuries.
Dodgers starter Dustin May battled through six innings, giving up six hits and one earned run.
Key Moment:
Álvarez ended a 57 at-bat RBI slump with a go-ahead double in the 10th, setting the tone for a dramatic finish in extras.
Stat of the Night:
The Mets have now won 27 straight games in which Lindor has homered—the second-longest such streak in MLB history, trailing only the Brooklyn Dodgers’ 29-game run during Carl Furillo’s power streak from 1951 to 1953.
What’s Next:
The series continues Tuesday night with Clayton Kershaw (0-0, 4.91 ERA) set to make his fourth start of the season for the Dodgers. He’ll go head-to-head with Mets right-hander Tylor Megill (4-4, 3.52 ERA).
