Dodgers beat Mets in Game 6, head to World Series reunion with Yankees
The Dodgers’ Tommy Edman hits a two-run double during the first inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers opening pitcher Michael Kopech throws to the plate during the first inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers second baseman Chris Taylor throws late as the New York Mets’ Pete Alonso (not pictured) is safe at first base during the first inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts looks on from the dugout during the first inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers opening pitcher Michael Kopech throws to the plate during the first inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani grimaces before hitting a single during the first inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hits a single during the first inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hits a single past New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea, left, during the first inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hits a single during the first inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts looks on from the dugout during the first inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts looks on from the dugout during the first inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández drops his bat after hitting a single during the first inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea throws to the plate during the second inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Tommy Edman hits a two-run double during the first inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández scores on a two-run double by Tommy Edman (not pictured) during the first inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ dugout reacts after Tommy Edman (not pictured) hit a two-run double during the first inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers second baseman Chris Taylor catches a pop-up hit by the New York Mets’ Sterling Marte (not pictured) as shortstop Tommy Edman looks on during the third inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers relief pitcher Anthony Banda reacts after striking out the New York Mets’ Jeff McNeil to end the top of the third inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Tommy Edman watches the fight of his two-run home run during the third inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Tommy Edman celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Tommy Edman, right, celebrates with teammate Teoscar Hernandez after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Tommy Edman, right, celebrates with teammate Teoscar Hernandez after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts waits with sunflower seeds to greet teammate Tommy Edman as he returns to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Tommy Edman, left, celebrates with teammate Mookie Betts as he returns to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith watches the flight of his two-run home run during the third inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith, left, celebrates next to first base coach Clayton McCullough as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith, center, celebrates with teammate Max Muncy after hitting a two-run home run as New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez, right, looks on during the third inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith, left, celebrates with teammates Mookie Betts, center, and Teoscar Hernández as he returns to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith, center, celebrates with teammates Mookie Betts, left, and Teoscar Hernández as he returns to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith (16) celebrates with teammates Mookie Betts, left, Teoscar Hernández, second from right, and Kike Hernandez, far right, as he returns to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith, center, is greeted by coaches and teammates as he returns to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea sits in the dugout after being replaced during the third inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers relief pitcher Evan Phillips throws to the plate during the sixth inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hits an RBI single to score Will Smith, not pictured, during the sixth inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hits an RBI single to score Will Smith, not pictured, during the sixth inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ dugout reacts as Will Smith, right, scores on a single by Shohei Ohtani (not pictured) during the sixth inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ dugout reacts as Will Smith, not pictured, scores on a single by Shohei Ohtani (not pictured) during the sixth inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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The Dodgers’ Tommy Edman hits a two-run double during the first inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
LOS ANGELES — Every year, the Dodgers drive out of spring training as a high-priced luxury vehicle with a ‘World Series or bust’ bumper sticker. They swerved around more potholes than usual this season and dropped a few parts along the way.
But all the miles have led them to their destination this time – where they find another high-priced luxury vehicle with its own weathered ‘World Series or bust’ bumper sticker waiting to race them for more than pink slips.
Getting four RBIs from National League Championship Series MVP Tommy Edman, a two-run home run from Will Smith and plenty more in support of the latest collective effort from their bullpen, the Dodgers punched their ticket to the World Series with a 10-5 victory over the New York Mets in Game 6 of the NLCS on Sunday night.
The Dodgers are heading to the World Series for the 22nd time in franchise history, the fourth time in the past eight years – but the first time since their pandemic ‘bubble’ championship in 2020. They will face their ancient nemesis, the New York Yankees, for the 12th time in the World Series, the first time since 1981. Game 1 is Friday night at Dodger Stadium.
With a pitching staff depleted by injuries, the Dodgers knew they were going to have to hit their way to this World Series. So they did. They outscored the Mets 46-26 in the NLCS with eight runs or more in four of the six games. The 46 runs are a franchise record for any postseason series and a National League record for an LCS.
Just as they did in 2020, the Dodgers rode a slugging shortstop to their NLCS victory. Edman’s 11 RBIs in the six games against the Mets matched the Dodgers’ postseason record set by Corey Seager during their seven-game NLCS victory over the Atlanta Braves in 2020.
Edman’s season was put on hold by offseason wrist surgery and an ankle injury suffered during his rehab. He didn’t play his first game until mid-August – after the Dodgers traded for him even though he was on the St. Louis Cardinals’ injured list.
That late start gave Edman his own personal calendar. For him, he said earlier this week, it feels like his season has reached May or maybe June.
Call him Mr. June then. Edman went 11 for 27 in the NLCS with three doubles, a home run and those 11 RBIs.
Edman moved from center field to shortstop when Miguel Rojas was left off the NLCS roster. And he moved to cleanup twice this series with All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman on the bench with his injured ankle.
He started the scoring in the first inning driving in two runs with a double into the left field corner. That offset an early 1-0 lead ceded by Michael Kopech in the top of the inning. Deployed as the opener by the Dodgers, Kopech did everything but hit the bull during the first inning. He walked two, threw a wild pitch and gave up a run when Chris Taylor made a throw wide of first base on Pete Alonso’s broken-bat grenade on the infield.
Edman’s double provided the first – and only – lead change of the entire series.
And they weren’t. The Mets had 18 baserunners – 11 hits, six walks and a hit batter. They had more than one baserunner in six of the first seven innings.
Two-run home runs from Edman and Smith in the third inning made it a 6-1 lead. But Anthony Banda surrendered a two-run home run of his own, to Mark Vientos, tightening things up. Evan Phillips loaded the bases in the sixth but escaped without allowing a run.
Blake Treinen (the Dodgers’ seventh and final pitcher of the night) took over in the eighth and put an end to the Mets’ dreams of a miracle. He struck out the side in the eighth.
The Dodgers gave him three more runs in the bottom of the inning. Treinen gave one back before converting the first save opportunity for either team in this series.
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