LOS ANGELES — The New York Mets reaching the NLCS was no accident.
Throughout New York’s run to this point in the postseason, they have made responding to adversity part of their team DNA. Whether it was Pete Alonso’s go-ahead homer in Game 3 of the wild-card round against Milwaukee or dropping Game 2 against the Phillies in the NLDS after coming back in thrilling fashion, the Mets haven’t let the emotional highs and lows of a deep postseason run distract them.
So after they got blown out by the Dodgers in Game 1 of this series, there was no reason to believe the Mets wouldn’t respond.
“It was an important game today, especially after the way we played last night,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said after his team’s 7-3 victory in Game 2. “We’ve done that the whole year. We get punched in the face, and we continue to find ways to get back up. And it will continue to be that way.”
The Mets have been led all year by Francisco Lindor, who not only put together his best season since joining the Mets but has also been the team’s vocal leader during their rise to being the best squad in baseball since June 1. And so it was fitting for the player who has been the Mets’ spark plug all year to be the one to get New York off on the right foot on Monday.
The Mets’ shortstop battled Dodgers opener Ryan Brasier leading off the game, and after working a 2-1 count, Lindor fouled off four consecutive Brasier offerings. On the eighth pitch of the at-bat, Lindor got exactly what he wanted, crushing an 89.7 mph cutter 395 feet into the Mets’ bullpen and giving New York the lead before the Dodger Stadium crowd could settle in.
Lindor’s solo homer got the Mets feeling good early and started the Dodgers’ planned bullpen game on a rocky note.
“It all is great when it works well and guys are throwing up zeros, but you’re still facing really good ballclubs,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of his game plan. “And there is a margin that you have to guard against and kind of really appreciate the cost of the next games and not forgetting that this isn’t a winner-take-all game. It’s not a three-game series.”
But the biggest swing of the day for the Mets came off the bat of Mark Vientos. The Mets’ third baseman — who is in the midst of a breakout season, with career highs in every offensive category — has become a driving force for New York’s lineup. In the second inning, New York continued to bring pressure against L.A.’s second pitcher of…