THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS left Citifield in New York on Friday without the National League pennant after losing Game Five of the league’s championship series, 12-6. But the Blue Crew still lead the series three games to two, and will be able to clinch the title on Sunday in Game Six. If not, Game Seven is on Sunday (Shutterstock photo).
By Pete Zarustica/Orange County Tribune
Well, looking at the bright side of Friday’s 12-6 loss by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the New York Mets in Game Five of the National League Championship Series there’s this:
Won’t it be nicer to win the pennant on your home diamond?
Those were all solo shots and that was the story all night as the Dodgers batted 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position while the Mets were 5-for-19.
The key hitters for New York were Pete Alonso, whose three-run homer in the first gave his team that early 3-0 lead and Jesse Winker, who went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and one driven in. He also drew a walk.
Pitching by the Dodgers figured in the Mets’ triumph. Jack Flaherty, who threw seven shutout innings and yielded just two hits in Game 1, was less successful on Friday.
In three innings he was tagged for eight hits and eight runs, all earned. He walked four batters and struck out none.
“He wasn’t sharp, clearly,” said Dodger manager Dave Roberts. “He’s been fighting something. He’s been under the weather a little bit. So I don’t know if that bled into the stuff, the velocity. I’m not sure.”
As a team, the Dodgers weren’t that sharp, either. We’ll see who has the cutting edge in Game Six on Sunday.
