In a night full of drama at Dodger Stadium, the New York Mets watched helplessly as a costly defensive blunder opened the door for a stunning four-run comeback by the Los Angeles Dodgers. What looked like a secure win quickly spiraled into chaos in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The Play That Changed Everything
With the Mets clinging to a 5-4 lead, reliever Reed Garrett appeared to get out of a jam when Andy Pages hit a routine grounder toward third baseman Brett Baty. It was the kind of play that happens dozens of times every game — nothing flashy, just basic execution.
But what followed was anything but ordinary.
Dodgers catcher Will Smith took off for home from third base the moment the ball hit Pages’ bat. Baty fielded the ball cleanly but fired a throw that bounced short of home plate. Catcher Francisco Alvarez lunged for it, but the ball popped loose as he collided with pitcher Reed Garrett — who was trying to back up the play.
Smith slid in safely, tying the game at 5-5, and the entire sequence played out like something from a slapstick comedy sketch. Fans watching live couldn’t believe what they had just seen.
From Bad to Worse: Conforto Comes Through
Just when the Mets thought they’d survive the inning, things got even worse. Up stepped former Met Michael Conforto, who hadn’t recorded an RBI hit with two outs all season long. He laced a go-ahead single into the outfield, giving the Dodgers their first lead of the inning.
For Conforto, it was a rare bright spot in what’s been a tough season since joining the reigning champs on a $17 million deal. His stat line coming into Thursday read .167/.311/.270 — not exactly what the Dodgers were hoping for.
But on this night, he delivered when it mattered most.
Dodgers Hold On for the Win
Los Angeles turned to struggling closer Tanner Scott in the ninth, and while he allowed a single and struck out two, he managed to seal the deal with a flyout from Luisangel Acuña.
The final score: Dodgers 6, Mets 5 .
Mets’ Nightmare Series Continues
This loss stung more than most. The Mets had taken three of the first four games in this series, but now head home having split the set after a brutal late-game collapse.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, remain atop the NL West at 38-25 and continue to defy expectations despite a thin pitching staff.
The Mets have made strides under owner Steve Cohen, but moments like these bring back memories of past seasons filled with inconsistency and heartbreak. One misplay, one slip-up — and suddenly the momentum shifts entirely.
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