LOS ANGELES (AP) — Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos homered as the New York Mets stopped the Los Angeles Dodgers' record-tying post-season scoreless streak in a 7-3 victory on Monday, tying the National League Championship Series at a game apiece.
Lindor added to his storybook season with a leadoff homer in the first inning against Ryan Brasier. Viento delivered during New York's five-run second, connecting for a grand slam against Landon Knack.
Before Lindor went deep, Los Angeles had a string of 33 consecutive scoreless innings. Jack Flaherty led the Dodgers to a 9-0 victory in Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday night.
Sean Manaea opened Game 2 with four shutout innings for New York. He was charged with three runs, two earned, and two hits in five-plus innings. Closer Edwin Diaz earned a four-out save.
Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and two walks. He remains hitless with the bases empty in his first post-season.
Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Wednesday in New York.
The Mets jumped all over the Dodgers after flopping in the series opener.
Lindor fouled off four consecutive pitches from Brasier before sending a 395-foot shot to right for his leadoff homer.
Knack took over for L.A. in the second and gave up a leadoff single to Starling Marte and then walked Jesse Winker. One out later, Tyrone Taylor doubled to left, scoring Marte.
After Francisco Alvarez popped to shortstop, Lindor was intentionally walked to load the bases. Vientos sent a 391-foot shot to centre for the third grand slam in Mets playoff history. That extended the lead to 6-0 and silenced the sellout crowd of 52,926.
It was the Mets’ second slam of the playoffs. Lindor hit a go-ahead slam in Game 4 of the NL Division Series against Philadelphia. Edgardo Alfonzo had the club’s first playoff slam in 1999.
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Beth Harris, The Associated Press