The magic of baseball lies in the fact that every pitch matters and no game is truly over until the final out is recorded. There are no victory formations or garbage time in baseball. As long as there are outs left, a team can come back and win the game. However, in reality, most games are decided by a few critical moments where the outcome hangs in the balance.
Game 2 of the NLCS showcased three such pivotal moments. The New York Mets emerged victorious with a 7-3 win, leveling the series at one game each. However, if those key moments had unfolded differently, the result could have been in favor of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
One of the critical moments in the game came early on in the second inning. The Dodgers deployed a bullpen strategy, opting for Landon Knack to face the bottom half of the Mets lineup. Knack quickly found himself in trouble with runners on second and third and two outs. Facing Mark Vientos with the bases loaded, Knack struggled to command his pitches, relying heavily on sliders. Despite several close calls, Vientos eventually made solid contact with a fastball, sending it over the fence for a grand slam.
Following the grand slam, the Dodgers bullpen held the Mets scoreless while the Dodgers offense rallied in the sixth inning, bringing the score to 6-3. With the bases loaded once again, Enrique Hernández stepped up to the plate for the Dodgers. Phil Maton, on the mound for the Mets, struggled to locate his curveball but managed to induce a foul ball on a hanging pitch to Hernández. Adjusting his approach, Maton turned to his cutter, eventually striking out Hernández and thwarting the Dodgers’ comeback attempt.
