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    • The Mets run out of playoff magic as the Dodgers send them packing
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    The Mets run out of playoff magic as the Dodgers send them packing

    Kathleen William Posted on

    LOS ANGELES – Thanks for the memories.

    OMG, Grimace and the playoff pumpkin all became past tense Sunday night as a Mets team that had defied the odds for most of the season and into October failed to pull off another miracle.

    Sean Manaea was struck early and the Mets didn't have much to offer in a 10-5 loss to the Dodgers in Game 6 of the NLCS. The Dodgers extended their National League record with a 25th pennant and host the Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday.

    Pete Alonso strikes out during the Mets' loss to the Dodgers on October 20, 2024. Jason Scenes/New York Post

    It's 38 seasons without a World Series title for the Mets, who defied most predictions to reach the playoffs with a wild-card berth by winning 89 games before leading the Brewers and Phillies in the wild-card series and NLDS, respectively.

    “It stinks because you want to keep going,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “But I just told the boys how proud I am because not only have we become a really good team, we have also become a family. And now we've raised the bar. That’s what we should strive for every year, playing well into October.”

    This experienced Dodgers team posed too much of a challenge even with a banged up starting rotation. The Dodgers instead relied on their bullpen, letting stars like Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts take over the offense, along with lesser-known players Max Muncy and Tommy Edman ( who was named MVP of the series after scoring eleven runs).

    Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor reacts after ending the seventh inning in NLCS Game 6 on October 20, 2024. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

    “Over the course of the series they have played better than us and I wish them all the best for the next round,” said Pete Alonso. “But there is so much to be proud of, what we have overcome, how we have become like brothers.”

    The Mets needed length from Manaea but got nothing close. The left-hander was ejected after just six outs and was charged with five earned runs on six hits and two walks in a 64-pitch fight. Manaea, who is expected to opt out of his contract after the season, broke down in tears as he spoke to reporters afterward.

    “I’m just proud of everything we’ve accomplished,” he said.

    Alonso finished what could be his final game in a Mets jersey – he will leave in free agency after the World Series – with an RBI 2-for-4.

    The Mets went 2-9 with runners in scoring position and left 13 runners on base.

    Alonso's infield single in the first brought in the first run of the game. Francisco Lindor led the way and reached second on Michael Kopech's wild pitch before Alonso, with one out and Lindor at third, hit a slow rebound that Chris Taylor threw away.

    Sean Manaea reacts during the Mets' loss to the Dodgers on October 20, 2024. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

    Manaea was in trouble from the start, facing seven batters in the first inning as the Dodgers built a 2-1 lead. Ohtani hit a leadoff single and Teoscar Hernandez hit a shot up the middle that he thought was a two-run home run, but it hit the fence and became a long single (because he couldn't run). Hernandez's error became a moot point with Edman's two-run double.

    The Dodgers took control in the third inning with four runs, including two home runs, burying the Mets in a 6-1 hole. Edman hit a two-run home run before Phil Maton came in and gave up a two-run bomb to Will Smith.

    Mark Vientos' fifth home run of the postseason, a two-run blast in the fourth, brought the Mets to 6-3. Francisco Alvarez hit a single in the inning before Vientos cleared the centerfield fence against Ryan Brasier.

    The Dodgers celebrate after eliminating the Mets in the NLCS on October 20, 2024. Jason Scenes for the NY Post

    Edwin Diaz entered the fourth with the Mets down 6-3 and pitched two scoreless innings.

    Alonso walked in the sixth to load the bases and bring Jesse Winker to the plate as a possible starter with two outs. Winker was pulled back by Evan Phillips on a soft fly ball to left.

    Ohtani delivered an RBI single in the sixth when he dunked on Tyrone Taylor's glove in center field, extending the Dodgers' lead to 7-3.

    The Mets got the run back in the seventh. Taylor and Jeff McNeil each singled before Alvarez drove in the run with a sacrifice fly.

    Kodai Senga came on for the seventh time and played a scoreless innings. The right-hander came back for the eighth and allowed an RBI double to Betts before Hernandez's sacrifice fly drove in the Dodgers' ninth run. Kiké Hernandez hit an RBI single that buried the Mets in a 10-4 hole.

    “The window has closed on this team,” Brandon Nimmo said. “It's a frustrating thing. This is a sad thing. It's very hard to swallow because I love this team so much. But as far as this organization is concerned, I think it’s a good step forward.”

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    Kathleen William
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