Mets Slugger Took Offense to Dodgers Pitching Decision in Game 2
During the top of the second inning in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Landon Knack intentionally walked New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor. With the bases loaded and the Dodgers already trailing 2-0, Knack and the Dodgers did not want to risk Lindor making a key play to give the Mets a bigger lead. Instead, they chose to pitch to Mark Vientos.
Vientos said after the game that he took the Dodgers’ decision to pitch to him personally, and capitalized on their decision by hitting a grand slam to give the Mets a 6-0 lead. The Mets would ultimately take Game 2 by a score of 7-3.
“To be honest with you, I took it personal,” Vientos told Tom Verducci postgame. “I was like, ‘Okay, you want me up to the plate, I’m going to try to drive in a run.’ Honestly, I was trying to simplify the game, I wasn’t trying to do too much, but I did take it personal that they walked Lindor for the bases loaded for me.”
While Vientos took the decision personally, he said he wasn’t necessarily trying to hit a home run, but get a walk or “put a ball in the gaps.” There was good reason for the decision to walk Lindor, as Lindor capitalized on his first at-bat of the game with a leadoff home run to give the Mets the early lead.
The Dodgers were part of a similar situation earlier this season when they took on the Los Angeles Angels on Sept. 3. The Dodgers and Angels went to extra innings tied 2-2, and the Dodgers took a 3-2 lead in the top of the 10th inning. Trying to limit the Dodgers’ lead, the Angels opted to intentionally walk Shohei Ohtani and pitch to Mookie Betts instead. Betts made the Angels pay, hitting a three-run home run to give the Dodgers a lead that the Angels could not overcome.
The series between the Dodgers and Mets will now to move to New York for Games 3, 4, and 5 of the series. The series will resume on Wednesday.
Photo Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
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