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Mets demolished again as playoff magic evaporates to put season on the brink

By
Mike Puma
Published Oct. 17, 2024
Updated Oct. 18, 2024, 1:41 a.m. ET

There are holes and then there are craters the size of Chavez Rav🦂ine, better known as Dodger Stadium. 

For the ♒Mets, one measure of success would be just getting this NLCS back to Los Angeles — something that seemed like a safe bet after departing Sout𝐆hern California earlier this week with the series tied, but after Thursday’s 10-2 loss in Game 4 at Citi Field doesn’t appear so certain. 

For the Mets, down 3-1 in the series, the mission is clear: Win 𓆏three straꦏight games against the Dodgers beginning with Friday’s Game 5 in Queens or start planning for spring training. 

“I believe in this group … the character of this team,” Pete Alonso said. “The one word I can think of for the 2024 Mets, other than ‘Grimace,’ is ‘resiliency.’ That’s just who we are. We have fun, we enjoy the moment, but at the end of day we’re a resilient bunch and we respond in a very positiv🔯e way.” 

Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts reacts while rounding the bases on his two-run homer in the sixth inning of NLCS Game 4 on Oct. 17, 2024.
Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts reacts while rounding the bases on his two-run homer in the sixth inning of NLCS Game 4 on Oct. 17, 2024. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Even with Freddie F꧅reeman (ankle) on the bench, this powerful Dodgers lineup tormented the Mets for a third time in four games.

And although the Mets weren’t shut out in a loss for the first time in this series, their lineup didn’t produce nearly enough with runnerꦍs on base. 

Mets pinch-hitter Jesse Winker reacts after flying out with the bases loaded to end the sixth inning of NLCS Game 4 on Oct. 17, 2024.
Mets pinch-hitter Jesse Winker reacts after flying out with the bases loaded to end the sixth inning of NLCS Game 4 on Oct. 17, 2024. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Exhibit A was the sixth inning when the Mets loaded the bases with nobody out aga♌inst reliever Evan Phillips and failed to score — pinch-hitter Jesse Winker’s long drive to ri𒁃ght inspired hope, but only for a split second. 

The Mets finished 0-for-10 with runneꦑrs in scoring posi🔯tion. In the four games, they are 4-for-29 (.138) in that category. The Dodgers have outscored the Mets, 30-9, in the series. 

“We have put press𝓀ure on them — I would take that first game out of it,” Brandon Nimmo said. “We juꦛst haven’t gotten that big hit.” 

In his first real clunker in almost two months, Jose Quintana lasted only 3 ¹/₃ innings and allowed five ea🌱rned runs on five hits with four walks and two strikeouts.

The veteran lefty h🌸ad pitched 11 innings over two previous starts this postseason without surrendering an earned run.

It foll🉐owed Luis Severino’s start of only 4 ²/₃ innings a night earlier. 

Mets starter Jose Quintana reacts as Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani rounds the bases after hitting a leadoff home run on Oct. 17, 2024.
Mets starter Jose Quintana reacts as Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani rounds the bases after hitting a leadoff home run on Oct. 17, 2024. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“We ask a lot out of these guys,” manager Carlos Mendoza said, referring to his starting pitchers. “And we’re facing a good team. You’ve got to give those guys credit. That’s a deep lineup. And whether [the startin🅘g pitchers] are🍨 feeling it or not, we haven’t executed and gotten length from them.” 

Follow The Post’s coverage of the Mets’ playoff run:

Shohei Ohtani launched Quintana’s second p🍨itch of the game over the right-field fence for hi🌳s second homer in as many days.

This blast left Ohtani’s bat at 117.8 m♑ph, giving him three homers in this postseason. 

Mark Vientos’ rocket against Yoshinobu Yamamoto in🦩 the✱ bottom of the inning tied it 1-1.

Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts after striking out in the fifth inning of NLCS Game 4 on Oct. 17, 2024.
Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts after striking out in the fifth inning of NLCS Game 4 on Oct. 17, 2024. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
A fan in a Grimace costume wears a rally cap during the 8th inning.
A fan in a Grimace costume wears a rally cap during the 8th inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

It was the fourth homer this postsea💙son fꦺor Vientos, whose grand slam in Game 2 at Dodger Stadium carried the Mets to victory.

Vientoﷺs’ 12 RBIs tied the franchise record for a postseason with Curtis Granderson (2015) and John Olerud (1999). 

Quintana’s night turned south in the third. Tommy Edman stroked an RBI double and Enrique Hernandez’s ensuing infield single gave the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.🦩

Ohtani walked with one out to begi﷽n 🤡the rally and Mookie Betts’ ensuing single further applied pressure to Quintana. 

New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos #27 poses with the OMG sign and New York Mets starting pitcher Luis Severino #40 in the dugout after he scores on his solo home run to tie the game during the first inning.
New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos poses with the OMG sign and New York Mets starting pitcher Luis Severino in the dugout after he scores on his solo home run to tie the game during the first inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
New York Mets pitcher Danny Young (81) has a meeting at the mound in the eighth inning of game four of the NLCS at Citi Field, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Queens, New York.
New York Mets pitcher Danny Young (81) has a meeting at the mound in the eighth inning of game four of the NLCS at Citi Field, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Queens, New York. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
New York Mets relief pitcher Jose Butto #70 throws a pitch during the fourth inning.
New York Mets relief pitcher Jose Butto throws a pitch during the fourth inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Nimmo’s hustle helped the Mets get a run back in the bottom of the 🎃inning.

Nimmo, who is dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot, beat the relay on a double-play grounder after the Mets had loade♏d the bases with one out.

Francisco ♑Alvarez and Francisco Lindor singled in succession to begin the rally before Alonso♊ walked. 

Chris Taylor singled and Ohtani walked to begin another Dodgers rally in the fourth. Jose Butto replaced Quintana and was greeted by a Bett꧟s double that extended the Dodgers’ lead to 5-2. 

Yamamoto was𒆙 removed in the fifth after plunking Alvarez and striking out Lindor.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 throws a pitch during the fifth inning.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws a pitch during the fifth inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez #4 is hit by a pitch during the fifth inning.
New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez is hit by a pitch during the fifth inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

The right-hander allowed two✤ earned runs on four hits with one walk and eight strikeouts over 4 ¹/₃ inningꦐs. 

Betts homered against Phil Maton in the sixt🌳h to bury the Mets in a 7-2 hoꦍle.

Ohtani’s third straight walkꦡ ended Butto’s outing before Betts cleared the🥃 left-field fence against Maton. 

Jose Iglesias, pinch-hitter Jeff McNeil and Winker were retired in succession without a run scorin🍸g after the Mets loaded the bases 🧔with nobody out in the sixth. 

Lindor and Nimmo singled in the seventh, but St💙arling Marte was retired by Blake Treinen to end the rally.

New York Mets starting pitcher Luis Severino #40 walks back into the clubhouse with his teammates after the final out of the 9th inning.
New York Mets starting pitcher Luis Severino walks back into the clubhouse with his teammates after the final out of the ninth inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Edman’s two-run double in the eighth and Will Smith’s RB𒀰I single b🌱uried the Mets in a 10-2 hole. 

“It’s very real,” Nimmo said. “Yo༺u loseꦯ one more game, you’re done.”