The Dodgers' strategy of relying on their bullpen in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series failed to pay off Monday as the New York Mets evened the best-of-seven showdown at one game apiece with a 7- 3 victory at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers entered the game three outs away from setting a postseason record for consecutive scoreless innings -- but that milestone evaporated after just eight pitches, as Mets leadoff batter Francisco Lindor hit a 2-2 cutter from Ryan Brasier 395 feet over the right field fence for a home run.
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The Dodgers had gone 33 postseason innings without allowing a run, tying the mark set by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1966 World Series against the Dodgers.
Lindor's homer also ended the postseason record-tying streak of three consecutive shutouts the Dodgers share with the Orioles and New York Giants, set against the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1905 World Series.
New York added five runs in the second inning -- highlighted by a grand slam by Mark Vientos off Landon Knack.
As he did in Game 4 of the Division Series against the San Diego Padres, Dodger manager Dave Roberts opted for a bullpen game -- the second time in four games. While eight pitchers limited the Padres to seven hits in Wednesday's 8-0 Dodger victory, Monday's game failed to repeat that success.
In the New York second inning, with one out, Tyrone Taylor doubled in Starling Marte, who had led off with a single -- advancing Jesse Winker, who had walked, to third.
Knack induced Francisco Alvarez to pop out to Tommy Edman, the Dodger shortstop, for the second out.
Roberts ordered an intentional walk to Lindor to load the bases. Vientos then hit Knack's ninth pitch, a full-count, four-seam fastball, 391 feet over the center field fence for a grand slam.
Max Muncy hit a solo home run in the fifth and Edman doubled in two runs in the sixth for the Dodgers.
Mets starter Sean Manaea (2-0) and three relievers limited the Dodgers to five hits.
The first five batters in the Dodger lineup -- Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernández, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith -- were a combined 0- for-19.
Game 3 of the best-of-seven series will be played Wednesday at Citi Field in New York.
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