There are holes and even a crater the size of Chavez Ravine known as Dodger Stadium.
For the Mets, one measure of success will be simply getting this NLCS back to Los Angeles. It seemed like a safe bet after leaving Southern California earlier this week with the series tied, but after Thursday's 10-2 loss in Game 4 to City, this seemed like a safe bet. It seemed like a gamble. The field seems less certain.
For the Mets, who trail 1-3 in the series, the mission is clear. They can either win their third straight game against the Dodgers, starting with Friday's Game 5 game against Queens, or they can start making plans for spring training.
“I believe in this group…the character of this team,” Pete Alonso said. “The only word that comes to mind for the 2024 Mets other than 'scowl' is 'resilient.' That's just who we are. We're having fun, we're enjoying the moment, but at the end of the day, I… They are a resilient group and will respond in a very positive way.”
Even with Freddie Freeman (ankle) on the bench, the Dodgers' powerful batting lineup gave the Mets trouble for the third time in four games.
And while the Mets didn't suffer a shutout loss for the first time in this series, their batting lineup was unable to get runners on base and generate enough production.
In Exhibit A, in the 6th inning, the Mets loaded the bases with no outs against reliever Evan Phillips, but could not score. Pinch hitter Jesse Winker's long drive to right gave him some hope, but only for a moment.
The Mets went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Through four games, they are 4-for-29 (.138) in this category. The Dodgers outscored the Mets 30-9 in this series.
“We put pressure on them and we're definitely going to take the first game,” Brandon Nimmo said. “We just haven’t had that big of a hit.”
Jose Quintana pitched seriously for the first time in about two months, pitching just 3 1/3 innings, allowing 5 hits, 5 earned runs, 4 walks, and 2 strikeouts.
The veteran left-hander has pitched 11 innings in his past two starts this postseason, allowing no earned runs.
It followed Luis Severino's start the night before, after just 4 2/3 innings.
“We're asking a lot from them,” manager Carlos Mendoza said of the starting pitchers. “And we're playing against a good team. You have to give credit to those guys. It's a deep lineup. [the starting pitchers] Whether we feel it or not, we're not running and getting any length from them. ”
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Shohei Ohtani hit Quintana's second pitch of the game over the right field fence for his second home run in recent days.
The outburst hit Ohtani's bat at 117.8 mph, giving him his third home run this postseason.
In the bottom of the inning, Mark Vientos hit a rocket against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, tying the score at 1-1.
It was Vientos' fourth home run of the postseason, and his grand slam in Game 2 at Dodger Stadium led to the Mets' victory.
Vientos' 12 RBIs tied him for a postseason franchise record tied with Curtis Granderson (2015) and John Olerud (1999).
Quintana's night turned south on the third day. Tommy Edman hit an RBI double, followed by an infield hit by Enrique Hernandez, giving the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.
Ohtani started the rally with a walk after one out, and Mookie Betts' subsequent single put more pressure on Quintana.
Nimmo's performance helped the Mets get one point back in the bottom of the inning.
Nimmo, who suffers from plantar fasciitis in his left foot, grounded out to a double play after the Mets had one out and the bases loaded.
Francisco Alvarez and Francisco Lindor had back-to-back singles, starting a rally before Alonso walked.
In the fourth inning, Chris Taylor singled and Ohtani walked, starting another Dodger rally. Jose Butt replaced Quintana, and Betts' double extended the Dodgers' lead to 5-2.
Yamamoto was ejected in the fifth inning after striking out Alvarez and Lindor.
The right-handed pitcher pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits, one walk, and eight strikeouts.
Betts hit a home run against Phil Mayton in the sixth inning, putting the Mets in a 7-2 hole.
Ohtani's three consecutive walks stopped Butts' batting, and Betts went over the left field fence against Mayton.
After the Mets had the bases loaded with no outs in the sixth inning, Jose Iglesias, pinch hitter Jeff McNeil, and Winker retired one after another without scoring.
Lindor and Nimmo singled in the seventh inning, but the rally ended when Starling Marte was retired by Blake Treinen.
In the 8th inning, Edman's two-run double and Will Smith's RBI put the Mets up 10-2.
“It’s very real,” Nimmo said. “If we lose one more game, it’s over.”
