In a win-or-go-home scenario in Game 5 of the NLCS at Citi Field on Friday night, the Mets kept their season alive with a 12-6 win over the Dodgers and Brandon Nimmo is confident that they can keep it going in Los Angeles.
Down 3-2 in the series, New York will have to win out, which means winning both games at Dodger Stadium — the same ballpark it recently split two games earlier in the series.
“It’s definitely possible. If any team can do it, we can,” Nimmo said. “I mentioned last night, we’ve played with our backs against the wall all year and we’ve been able to rise to the occasion — some might even say we’re at our best at those times. If anybody can do it, we can do it and we’re just looking for Sunday to go 1-0 and keep this thing going.”
It’s true — the Mets have proven all season long that there’s no adversity too strong that they can’t overcome. After all, they’re still standing despite a tumultuous start to the season.
Even during the playoffs, New York has shown its mettle (or magic) with comeback win after comeback win and seems to rise to the occasion whenever times seem the most tough. In fact, during the season the Mets led MLB with 45 come-from-behind wins.
“It’s what you learn from being here for a while. You just learn to not panic,” Nimmo said. “And if you’re new here, then you can definitely start to panic and start to try to change things, but we’ve had success focusing on the process for four or five months now and it’s not time to change it. Just glad that we got some things to go our way.”
In potentially their final game at Citi Field this season, the Mets — after two consecutive stinkers — did not need a comeback win in Game 5 after scoring three runs in the first inning thanks to Pete Alonso’s towering blast to center field off Jack Flaherty who kept New York scoreless for seven innings in Game 1.
In all, the Mets scored 12 runs on 14 hits after combining for two runs in their previous two games. The win was another blowout, a theme in this series, but on New York’s side.
“Good teams don’t give the momentum away once they get it,” Nimmo said. “I think that’s indicative of the series right now.”
Now, the Mets will need to find a way to win two games in Los Angeles. The good news is the Dodgers will be going with another bullpen game in Sunday’s Game 6. The last time they did that in Game 2, New York got out to another early lead and won 7-3.
If the Mets, with Sean Manaea on the bump, can do it again on Sunday they’ll force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Monday.
“I don’t think now is the time to start changing things,” Nimmo said. “It’s just another game. I think if you approach it any other way the moment eats you up. So for us, we just have to approach it the same way and do it the way we’ve been doing it.
“If we try to make it more than it is, guys will be tight and we won’t play as well. Baseball is not a game that when you try harder it works better. I’ve tried that, been there, done that. It doesn’t work.”
As for Friday night, manager Carlos Mendoza asked for more out of his relievers after David Peterson went 3.2 innings. Ryne Stanek pitched 2.1 innings, the longest outing he’s had as a Met and in his career, and Edwin Diaz went the final two innings.
The two of them allowed one earned run in 4.1 innings while striking out six and walking none. Neither threw more than 31 pitches, either, and with a day off on Saturday both should be available for Game 6.
“I think we’re just laying everything on the line right now and obviously we’re asking a lot out of everyone right now,” Nimmo said. “But Stanek and Diaz and [Reed] Garrett and honestly even Petey — he’s had such an irregular schedule and for him to just keep stepping up time after time has been amazing. It’s all hands on deck and I’m just really proud of the guys for stepping up.”
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