NEW YORK – Pete Alonso hit an early three-run home run and the New York Mets beat an ineffective Jack Flaherty, extending the National League Championship Series with a 12-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 on Friday.

Starling Marte had three doubles, four hits and three RBI for New York. Francisco Alvarez broke out of a slump with three hits — including an RBI single in a five-run third inning. Francisco Lindor and Jesse Winker each had an RBI triple.

After suffering blowouts in three of the first four games, including the final two nights at home, the wild-card Mets salvaged their season for the second time in these playoffs – both with the help of a three-run throw from Alonso. They cut their series deficit to 3-2 and sent the best-of-seven NLCS back to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Sunday.

Sean Manaea is expected to start for New York on a five-day break, while the Dodgers will likely play another bullpen game due to a thin rotation decimated by injuries.

When Flaherty had the opportunity to send his hometown team to the World Series, he failed. After throwing seven shutout innings of two-hit ball in a Game 1 win, he was down 3-0 with four batters when Alonso launched a low slider 432 feet to center field for his fourth home run of the postseason.

Alonso, who is on track to become a coveted free agent this fall, also scored as the Mets were eliminated in Game 3 of their Wild Card Series in Milwaukee. The game was more dramatic, with New York trailing 2-0 entering the final two outs of the ninth.

But once again, Alonso did everything he could to extend his tenure in a Mets uniform.

Flaherty allowed eight runs and eight hits in three innings. He failed to hit a batter for the first time since a game with St. Louis against Pittsburgh in September 2022.

After striking out 12 times on Thursday night, the Mets didn’t let up once in Game 5.

With New York starter David Peterson leading 8-1, he was unable to get through to the fourth period.

Dodgers rookie Andy Pages hit two home runs and drove in four runs. Mookie Betts went deep for the second straight game to help Los Angeles cut an eight-run deficit to 10-6.

But then relievers Ryne Stanek and Edwin Díaz calmed down, and the Mets put that point away. Stanek earned the victory by pitching a career-best 2 1/3 innings, and Díaz struck out six without allowing a run.

TRAINER ROOM

Dodgers: All-Star 1B Freddie Freeman returned to the lineup after being sidelined Thursday with a severe right ankle sprain that caused him to miss two games this postseason. Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said there wasn’t much temptation to rest Freeman against a left-hander again and give him a series of days off in a row. “I think that one day was good,” Roberts said before the game. “Yes, another day probably would have been better. But I just feel like I want to put our best lineup out there today. I want to win tonight.” .”

Mets: Jeff McNeil had two sacrifice flies in his first playoff start, replacing a struggling Jose Iglesias at second base. McNeil was named to the NLCS roster — he had been sidelined since Sept. 6 with a broken right wrist — and went hitless in three crucial appearances before Friday.

NEXT

Manaea (12-6, 3.47 ERA) is 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA in three playoff starts, including a win in Game 2 at Dodger Stadium.

——

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb