The Los Angeles Dodgers opted for another bullpen game on Monday, but it didn't yield positive results as suffered a 7-3 loss to the New York Mets that evened the National League Championship Series.
The Dodgers fell into an immediate hole as Francisco Lindor led off the game with a solo home run off Ryan Brasier, who served as the opener.
The deficit grew in the top of the second as Tyrone Taylor hit an RBI double to give the Mets a 2-0 lead. Then with two outs in the inning, the Dodgers opted to intentionally walk Lindor in order to face Mark Vientos.
With the bases loaded, Vientos delivered a grand slam off Landon Knack that essentially was the knockout punch. "For sure, I took it personal," Vientos said of the Dodgers' decision to walk Lindor in order to face him.
"I mean, I want to be up there during that at-bat for sure. I want them to walk Lindor in that situation, put me up there. And at that point it was just, let me simplify the game, just get one run in, get a walk -- whatever I can do to add another run to the score. And luckily I hit a bomb there and it went over the fence."
The home run came on the ninth pitch of the at-bat, a 95.1 mph fastball that traveled 391 feet over the right-center field fence.
"I didn't think he was going to give me a fastball," Vientos said. "That was my approach was, to see a heater up. But I wasn't expecting heater. I thought I was going to get like a slider and I was just going to poke it in the hole or something."
The home run was Vientos' third of the postseason and came on the ninth pitch of his at-bat. That also gave Vientos 11 RBI this October, which is one shy of tying the Mets postseason record that's shared by John Olerud (1999) and Curtis Granderson (2015).
"I think, honestly, it's right there. Just when I say I'm simplifying the game, I'm just focused on one thing. And the only thing I'm focused on is winning the game," Vientos answered when asked why he is so comfortable in his first postseason.
"And whatever I can do, whether it's move a runner over, make a play, be a good teammate, that's what I want to do, because the only focus I have is winning games."
Vientos explained that while he felt slighted at the Dodgers' decision to face him, it was mostly due to the respect they have for Lindor. "Maybe. But I feel like it's just the praise for Francisco," Vientos said when asked if teams still underestimate him.
"You've got Francisco ahead of me, and he hit a home run earlier in the game. So they would rather take a chance on me than him, but I use it as motivation. I'm like, 'All right, you want me up, I'm going to show you,' or whatever."