Mets on to NLCS against Cubs after dumping Dodgers in Game 5

In a back-and-forth, classic NLDS against the Dodgers, the Mets fueled off the LA drama and came away with a gritty 3-2 victory in Game 5 and a 3-2 victory in the series. New York will host Game 1 of the NLCS Saturday at Citi Field against the Chicago Cubs.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Mets’ lights-out closer Jeurys Familia got eternal heel Chase Utley to fly out, got A.J. Ellis to strike out swinging, and got Howie Kendrick to “K” swinging as well and the celebration was on.

At the plate, Daniel Murphy carried the Mets Thursday, highlighted by his solo home run into a quickly quiet right field crowd at Dodger Stadium in the sixth inning off of Zack Greinke that gave the Mets a 3-2 lead.

The Mets had gotten their second run of the night in the fourth when Murphy made an all-time heady move, swiping third base when the Dodgers fell asleep while they worked out of a shift. After taking the open bag, he was driven home on a sac fly by Travis d’Arnaud and the two teams were knotted at two runs apiece up until Murphy’s aforementioned sixth inning blast.

Both the Mets and Dodgers put runs on the board early. Murphy’s triple (later ruled a double and error) to deep center plated Curtis Granderson to give New York a 1-0 lead. Los Angeles responded immediately as Justin Turner’s opposite field single and Andre Ethier’s blooper to left gave the home team a 2-1 lead after one.

It appeared as though Mets starter Jacob deGrom was going to get a quick hook due to early struggles, but he was extremely resilient right through the sixth inning. The long-haired flame-thrower ultimately allowed two earned runs on six hits before Noah Syndergaard took over. Syndergaard did not allow a run in the seventh, the only inning he pitched.