LOS ANGELES — Max Muncy played hero for the Los Angeles Dodgers by smashing two home runs, one of which tied the game in the ninth inning, setting the stage for Freddie Freeman to deliver a game-winning double in the 10th, leading the Dodgers to a thrilling 6-5 victory over the New York Mets on Tuesday night.
Freeman managed to slice a fly ball to deep left field, which was poorly judged by Brandon Nimmo. He got disoriented, losing sight of the ball, which landed on the warning track, allowing Tommy Edman, the automatic runner, to score from second base with just one out. This dramatic finish halted the Mets’ four-game winning streak.
The Dodgers, showcasing their resilience, celebrated their 20th comeback win this season after squandering an initial 4-1 lead. They had also rallied in the ninth inning of their series opener on Monday, although they ultimately fell 4-3 in 10 innings when their bullpen faltered. However, this time around, reliever Tanner Scott (1-2) made a solid recovery, retiring the Mets in order during the 10th by striking out both Juan Soto and Pete Alonso, followed by a groundout from Nimmo.
Earlier, the Dodgers opted to walk Shohei Ohtani intentionally in the bottom of the 10th, leading to Mookie Betts lining out to left before Freeman took the spotlight. This victory lifted the Dodgers to a 2-3 record against the Mets for the season, their previous encounter being a climactic Game 6 of the 2024 National League Championship Series, which the Dodgers had won. Three of this year’s five meetings between these division leaders have extended into extra innings, with two more contests pending at Dodger Stadium.
Despite jeers from the home crowd of 53,424, the Mets showed their competitive spirit. Juan Soto’s two-run blast pulled New York within a run, reducing their deficit to 4-3 in the third inning. They leveled the score when Pete Alonso’s RBI double in the fifth brought Francisco Lindor home after he reached base via a walk and advanced on a fielding error by Muncy.
Nimmo, later in the same inning, hit a ground ball that he expertly beat out for a run-scoring infield single, reversing an initial out call via a successful challenge. This play gave the Mets a 5-4 advantage and signaled the end of Clayton Kershaw’s evening on the mound.
Muncy’s pivotal two-run homer in the first inning was part of a four-run outburst against Tylor Megill of the Mets, who settled down afterward to complete six innings on the mound.
Mookie Betts made a return to action after a brief hiatus due to a minor fracture in his left toe, contributing a 2-for-5 performance.
Before the night’s action, a rare June rain shower swept over Dodger Stadium around 3 1/2 hours before the first pitch, forcing the grounds crew to cover the field with a tarp.
A notable moment in the game featured Juan Soto making an impressive catch off Will Smith’s foul ball in the fourth inning, leaning over a short retaining wall in right field while maintaining his grip on the ball.
Statistically, the Dodgers were rather quiet at the plate, managing only two hits between Muncy’s initial home run in the first and his crucial homer in the ninth.
Looking ahead, the series continues with Mets right-hander Griffin Canning (5-2, 3.23 ERA) scheduled to face off against Dodgers right-hander Tony Gonsolin (3-1, 5.23 ERA) on Wednesday night.