The New York Mets secured a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night at Dodger Stadium in a tightly contested extra-inning matchup, highlighted by key contributions from Francisco Alvarez and Francisco Lindor. Despite Shohei Ohtani’s continued offensive surge, the Mets prevailed in the opening game of a National League Championship Series rematch.
New York entered the game as a moderate underdog, with most betting lines listing the Dodgers as -135 favorites and the Mets around +115. The over/under was set at 8.5 runs, and the game narrowly surpassed that mark with seven total runs scored through nine innings and one additional run in extras.
Alvarez, who had not recorded a run batted in since May 4, broke his drought with a go-ahead double leading off the 10th inning off Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott. Starling Marte, who replaced Alvarez as a pinch runner, scored moments later on Lindor’s RBI single to extend the Mets’ lead to two runs.
In the bottom of the 10th, the Dodgers threatened immediately. José Castillo issued a walk to Freddie Freeman and gave up an RBI single to Andy Pages, cutting the deficit to one. Castillo then recorded a critical strikeout of Max Muncy. After Will Smith’s flyout advanced Freeman to third, reliever José Buttó induced a sharp comebacker from Tommy Edman to end the game, securing his first save of the season.
Ohtani had tied the game earlier with a 424-foot home run in the seventh inning, a solo shot off Max Kranick. The homer marked his 23rd of the season, placing him in a tie with Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh for the significant league lead. Ohtani later added a sacrifice fly in the ninth that brought Edman home to tie the game 3-3, handing Mets closer Edwin Díaz his first blown save of the season. Díaz was appearing for the third time in four days.
The Mets scored early when Lindor launched a solo home run on the game’s second pitch from Dodgers starter Dustin May. It was Lindor’s 14th home run of the season and sixth to lead off a game, matching Ohtani for the most in the majors in that category. The Mets are now 27-0 in games where Lindor homers since 2022, the second-longest streak in league history.
May worked six innings for the Dodgers, allowing six hits and striking out five in a resilient performance. His counterpart, Paul Blackburn, delivered five scoreless innings for New York in his first major league appearance since August. Blackburn, sidelined by back and knee injuries, allowed three hits and struck out three, including two punchouts against Ohtani.
The Mets have won eight of their last nine games, continuing a recent surge that brought them back into the National League playoff conversation. The Dodgers, meanwhile, have dropped two straight after taking two of three from the Yankees over the weekend.
The series continues Tuesday night, with Los Angeles sending veteran left-hander Clayton Kershaw (0-0, 4.91 ERA) to the mound for his fourth start of the season. New York counters with right-hander Tylor Megill (4-4, 3.52 ERA), who will look to keep the Mets’ momentum alive.
