SAN FRANCISCO -- While the Los Angeles Lakers rested their starters and were blown out in their preseason finale, 132-74, by the Golden State Warriors on Friday, rookie guard Bronny James closed out the exhibition slate with some personal improvement.

Bronny, the eldest son of LeBron James who was picked No. 55 in the draft by L.A., started against the Warriors and scored 17 points on 7-for-17 shooting, with 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block in 35 minutes.

"It just a great feeling to go out there and not think as much as I do and just play," Bronny said after the game.

The 20-year-old struggled mightily in his first five preseason games, scoring 8 points total on 4-for-20 shooting (0-for-7 from 3), with 5 turnovers.

Friday was a different story. Bronny made his first shot less than a minute after tip-off, scoring on a cutting layup while absorbing contact at the rim. He also finally connected on a 3, beating the shot clock with a 28-foot jumper from the top of the arc in the second quarter.

Lakers coach JJ Redick said it was another step in the development of the prospect whom L.A. signed to a four-year, $7.9 million contract in the offseason.

"I think for him and all our younger players, all the moments are building blocks," Redick said. "Not just the good moments. The bad moments are learning opportunities. I think you have to have a level of patience, a level of optimism. I'm very confident in the level of work that our young guys have had.

"So, again, I think for him, I'm sure it felt good to have 17 points. ... I'm not even remotely concerned about that. It's not even on my radar. Like, we're trying to help him grow into a great basketball player."

Bronny's preseason arc mirrored his showing during summer league play at the California Classic and in Las Vegas, when he took his lumps at first before scoring in double digits in his last two games, helping L.A. to two wins.

"[It gives me] just a little bit of confidence going into the season even though I might not be in that rotation, might not be playing, but just going into practice, maybe G League games with that confidence in myself to go out there and play my game," Bronny said. "I feel like that's the biggest part of it."

The Lakers' other bright spot in the lopsided loss was rookie Quincy Olivari, an Exhibit 10 signee who led L.A. with 22 points on 8-for-16 shooting (5-for-9 from 3) and 7 rebounds.

Warriors star Stephen Curry, who was held out of the game with a sprained finger, spent time with both Bronny and Olivari afterward.

Olivari showed Curry a video of him as a child getting an autograph from the sharpshooter when he attended a Warriors road game against the Atlanta Hawks. Curry gifted him a pair of his sneakers, and autographed those, too.

"I used to sleep under that jersey," Olivari said, fighting back tears as he told reporters the story. "I just wanted to be like him so bad. So just to be able to meet him, him be able to have some respect for me and for us to talk in the back -- he gave me a pair of his shoes and signed them. Like, that meant the world to me."

Olivari's Exhibit 10 deal will allow L.A. to retain his rights for their G League team, the South Bay Lakers. The Lakers could also choose to waive one of their three two-way players to bring him up to their NBA team at some point, however currently those spots are occupied by big men as insurance behind Anthony Davis and Jaxson Hayes, with Christian Wood injured to start the season.

"I just want a job in the NBA," Olivari said. "Like, it's the only thing I've wanted since I was like 5 years old and my dad always said my biggest gift is my energy. Energy can never be created or destroyed, only transferred. So I bring energy to whatever team wants me and I bring every group up."

CLEVELAND -- For an entire season, Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase provided something that even the best relievers rarely can claim: near certainty.

But after two straight nights of struggles in the highest stakes games of the year, that certainty has been shaken.

On Friday, Clase gave up a pair of go-ahead runs to the Yankees in the ninth inning, absorbing the loss in New York's 8-6 win in Game 4, a defeat that pushed the Guardians to the brink of elimination in the American League Championship Series.

This came on the heels of a stunning Game 3, won by Cleveland in a wild finish that was set up by a rare Clase blown save. In that one, he gave up back-to-back homers to Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton to lose the lead -- two homers in consecutive at-bats against a pitcher who gave up just two homers all season, posted a 0.61 ERA and converted 47 of 50 save opportunities.

"I just haven't been executing," Clase said after Friday's loss. "I'm failing against the hitters and I haven't had the results."

Uncertainty suddenly reigns around the game's premier closer, though the Guardians' support of their relief ace remains steadfast. Cleveland's deep and dominant bullpen has been the team's chief asset all season, but with Clase's October ERA now at 10.29 and other leaks springing throughout the bullpen, the group now has a 3.83 ERA, five losses and Thursday's blown save on its playoff dossier.

"We play a game based on failure," Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor said. "They've done such an incredible job for us. We believe in them and get excited every time they go to the mound."

Clase's struggles in Game 4 took a different shape than the home runs he allowed Thursday. This time, New York capitalized on three singles, a stolen base and an error to plate the go-ahead runs in the ninth. Unlike Game 3, when Clase's teammates rallied for a memorable win, this time the Guardians' late push fell short.

Asked if he has ever gone through such struggles, Clase said, "Not that I recall." He added that he appreciates his teammates' support and resilience.

"I have confidence in them," he said. "I told them thank you for the job they did."

Clase's quick departure after Game 3 raised some eyebrows, but he was at his locker, ready to field questions as soon as the Cleveland clubhouse opened Friday. The focus shifts to Saturday, and a Game 5 that the Guardians must win to keep their season alive.

"I'm not losing my confidence," Clase said. "I'm going to give my best. It's something that I'm surprised about, what's happening."

MINNEAPOLIS - New York Liberty coach Sandy Brondello blasted the officiating and foul call disparity following her team's 82-80 Game 4 loss Friday to the Minnesota Lynx.

"If [we] are getting hit, it's a bloody foul," she said.

Brondello's critiques came after Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve spoke out after Game 3 with her own issues with the officiating. With the Lynx's victory Friday, the series is headed back to Brooklyn for a winner-take-all Game 5.

"I know Cheryl talked about it last time, but we got no calls today," Brondello said. "So do I need to talk up in a press conference? Because they were getting ticky-tacks. And we went down there and got hit and get nothing.

"It was 14-9 [Liberty fouls to Lynx fouls]. No. All we want is fair, OK. So if we are getting hit, that's a foul. You know, I'm one of the nicest bloody coaches in this league, but this pisses me off. Just be fair."

The Lynx ultimately had 20 trips to the free throw line compared to the Liberty's 9, and essentially won the game off Bridget Carleton's 2-for-2 stint at the charity stripe with 2.0 seconds to play following a foul from Sabrina Ionescu.

On the series, Minnesota has been called for 58 fouls while New York has been whistled for 56, according to ESPN Research. There was also a five-foul difference in Game 3, with Minnesota getting called for 18 and New York for 13.

This is the second WNBA playoff series ever to feature three games decided by three points or fewer.

"In the end, close game. Things we could have done better. We all could have done better," Brondello continued. "Including me, getting that f---ing timeout -- excuse me, don't repeat it," referencing a timeout she said she tried to call with 30 seconds remaining in the game that she said the referees did not hear.

After Game 3, Reeve took issue with what she considered different officiating for New York's Breanna Stewart compared to her star, Napheesa Collier. That day, Stewart shot 10 free throws while Collier shot four.

"The game is called differently for Phee than it is for Stewie for sure," Reeve said. "You look at the same level of activity, and around-the-rim contact. For whatever reason, we have a hard time getting to the foul line in this series."

Asked to respond to Brondello's comments on Friday, Reeve said, "I didn't get a response from the league [after Wednesday]. I have a text to prove it. I think Phee has some things to prove that the fouls weren't called. That's unfortunate. I guess I don't really have much more than that."

MINNEAPOLIS -- For the first time since 2019, the WNBA Finals are going the distance.

With a lot of experience in these games over the years, Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve was asked what she thought would be the difference Sunday when the Lynx meet the New York Liberty to decide the league championship (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET).

"I wish I knew," Reeve said. "I'd either not sleep, or I'd sleep really good. It's two great teams. Who knows?"

This has been a series of responding to tough losses. On Friday at Target Center, it was Minnesota's turn. The Lynx won 82-80 on two free throws from Bridget Carleton with 2 seconds left.

That came after Wednesday's Game 3 in Minnesota, when Sabrina Ionescu made a 28-foot 3-pointer with 1 second left for an 80-77 Liberty victory.

With a chance to secure their first WNBA title in franchise history Friday, the Liberty fell short and now must be the team that responds after disappointment -- again.

New York did that in Game 2 with an 80-66 victory that followed a crushing 95-93 Game 1 loss in overtime. Those two games were at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, as Sunday's game will be.

"We bounce back after a loss really, really well, and making sure that everybody is on the same page going forward," New York's Breanna Stewart said. "In the playoffs, in a series, there's going to be momentum shifts. There were momentum shifts in the game tonight."

However, Game 4 was the tightest in this series throughout all 40 minutes, with 14 lead changes and 13 ties. As was the case in Game 3, the Lynx took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter.

In the final 4 minutes, the teams traded big plays, including Carleton and Kayla McBride making 3-pointers for Minnesota, and Jonquel Jones getting a 3-point play for New York.

With 35 seconds left, the Liberty missed three chances at the basket and then had a shot clock violation. Liberty coach Sandy Brondello was angry after the game about the officiating, noting she tried to call a timeout during that stretch but wasn't heard.

It gave Minnesota the ball with 18.1 seconds left and the score tied at 80. The Lynx then looked to Courtney Williams to take the game-winning shot. She missed, but Carleton was fouled on the rebound by Ionescu.

Carleton was a second-round draft selection out of Iowa State in 2019 by Connecticut and was waived by the Sun in her rookie season. Minnesota picked her up, and she found a home with the Lynx. This has been by far her best WNBA campaign, as she became a full-time starter for the first time and averaged a career-high 9.6 points in the regular season.

Carleton made both free throws with 2 seconds left, and then Ionescu missed a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer.

"I think it's an epitome of the year she's had and how important she's been to the team," Reeve said of Carleton, who finished with 12 point and 4 rebounds. "She's a hustle-play player, so that was on display. You can always count on her to be there for you."

McBride led Minnesota with19 points. For New York, Jones had 21 and Leonie Fiebich 19.

For Stewart and Minnesota's Napheesa Collier, both all-WNBA first-team selections, Friday was another tough battle as they often guard each other. Stewart was 5-of-21 from the field for 11 points, and Collier 4-of-10 for 14.

"We are both great players," Collier said. "It's going to get harder and harder each time to get the shots that you normally get."

Sunday will be the ninth meeting in 2024 between Collier and Stewart -- who have been UConn and USA Basketball teammates -- and the Lynx and Liberty. And it will be the last, the game that decides if New York gets a long-awaited first WNBA championship or Minnesota gets a WNBA-record fifth.

It will be the eighth Game 5 in WNBA Finals history, and the sixth that Reeve will be part of, as either an assistant at Detroit (2006, 2007) or head coach of the Lynx (2015, 2016, 2017, 2024). She was on the winning side in 2006, 2015 and 2017. Will that be the case Sunday?

"I do feel very blessed in my career to have a chance to have been a part of so many," Reeve said. "Haven't won them all. I think what I'm just thrilled about is that this group gets to experience a Game 5.

"It's beyond words how we feel about this team, and we just so wanted them to be in the Finals, No. 1, and 2, put themselves in a position to win a championship. And we've done just that."

Of course it's going to five.

The 2024 WNBA Finals have been a roller coaster full of close finishes and big-time plays. So it's only fitting that one of the most thrilling championship series in recent memory will go the distance. The Minnesota Lynx's 82-80 Game 4 victory Friday against the New York Liberty ensured a winner-take-all showdown Sunday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) at Barclays Center.

Unlike the historic comebacks that defined Games 1 and 3, Game 4 was a back-and-forth affair, with 14 lead changes and 13 ties. No team led by more than six points.

New York had an opportunity to take the lead in the final minute but missed three shots in one possession, which ended on a shot-clock violation. It seemed like a second overtime game of this Finals was imminent, but Bridget Carleton drew a foul with 2.0 seconds left after getting an offensive rebound on a Courtney Williams missed shot. The Lynx forward hit both free throws to put Minnesota ahead for good and send the series back to New York.

ESPN breaks down how the Lynx evened the series and what to expect in what should be an iconic end to the Finals on Sunday.

How did the Lynx slow down Breanna Stewart?

WNBA Finals Game 4s in a New York uniform haven't been kind to Stewart. After she shot 3-for-17 a year ago in the Aces' clincher, Stewart's night Friday was nearly as tough. She scored 11 points on 5-of-20 shooting (and missed all four 3-point attempts) -- one game after Stewart was the dominant force Wednesday with 30 points and 11 rebounds.

Minnesota's defense is the biggest reason there will be a Game 5. The Lynx sent more defenders at Stewart earlier in possessions Friday. Whenever she caught the ball inside the 3-point line, Stewart had to contend with two defenders, one to prevent a quick-release jumper, the other to cut off a driving lane. It was a case of a veteran coach implementing a game plan that only a veteran and team-oriented defense could execute possession after possession.

Stewart did get some open looks that she missed, but the Lynx -- led by Napheesa Collier, the WNBA's defensive player of the year -- deserve most of the credit. -- Creme

Sandy Brondello was critical of Friday's officiating, saying, "We got no calls." Did the officiating impact the outcome of Game 4?

No team won or lost because of the foul disparity Friday. Stewart was the only player in foul trouble, and she still managed to play 33 minutes. Yes, Minnesota had more opportunities at the line, but Stewart's and Sabrina Ionescu's shooting struggles (a combined 10-for-36 from the field, 0-for-9 from 3) had more to do with the Liberty's inability to close out. New York had three shots on their last real offensive possession and weren't able to convert any of them.

Brondello might have wanted to respond after Cheryl Reeve called out the officiating the night before during interviews with the media, but she will be more focused on cleaning up things offensively and helping her team overcome some of their turnover problems -- those continued into Friday's game (16 turnovers for 19 points). -- Philippou

What impact did role players have on Game 4?

Remarkably, Minnesota pulled off its biggest win of the season with zero points in the fourth quarter from either Collier or Courtney Williams. Kayla McBride had a good night with a Lynx-leading 19 points, but she was quiet in the second half with just 5. Alanna Smith and Bridget Carleton scored 7 of Minnesota's last 9 points and delivered in the clutch. They each finished with 12 points and combined for 11 rebounds. The Lynx even got an important 10 minutes defensively from Dorkha Juhasz, who had played just 2 minutes in the previous three games.

That New York almost left Minnesota with a championship despite Stewart's tough night is a testament to the contributions of Leonie Fiebich, who had 19 points, 7 of which came in the fourth quarter. -- Creme

Cecilia Zandalasini put in another clutch performance. The Minnesota forward finished with +6 plus/minus (with 6 points and 4 rebounds in 16 minutes). She is the only player from the 2017 Lynx championship roster on the team today, returning to the league following a five-year hiatus.

"Ceci is tough. Goes through a stretch of games where maybe she's not contributing like she wants to contribute, and then all of a sudden we had a Ceci sighting at shootaround the other day, and these last two games, really helping us ..." Reeve said Friday. "We've always tried to get her back here. Timing was good for this one, and she's been a great fit for us." -- Philippou

Stewart has a history of bouncing back. What do you expect from her Sunday?

It would be no surprise to see Stewart looking completely different on Sunday. In the regular season, her lowest point total in a game eight points. Two days later she had 31 points and 10 rebounds. An 11-point game late in the season was followed by 38 the next. Stewart's low for the playoffs was 13 in Game 2 against Atlanta in the first round -- she then opened the semifinals against Las Vegas with 34 points.

At this point, a bounce-back game is almost a calling card. Stewart might not hit 30 points in Game 5, but she will be much better. -- Creme

Who has the advantage in Game 5?

In a series like this, "who knows" might be the safest answer. Both teams have plenty of positives to take away from Friday. Minnesota won despite not getting a great game from Collier. The Lynx also will have gained confidence on how to contain Stewart. Smith looked healthy after the back injury in Game 3. That should make Cheryl Reeve more certain of her rotations and bench minutes.

The Liberty can take solace in the fact that they nearly stole one with Stewart having one of the worst games of her career. They also know that she is a counter puncher who often finds a way to bounce back. Jones played more confidently as well.

Momentum? Edge to Minnesota. Homecourt? Edge to New York. Flip a coin and hope that Game 5 is just as entertaining as the previous four. -- Creme

It should be New York being back on its home floor, but with the way the first four games of the series went, I don't think anything would surprise me at this point. -- Philippou

NEW YORK -- Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts left open the possibility of sitting Freddie Freeman for Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, saying "his swing is not right" due to the ankle injury that has hampered the first baseman all postseason.

The 35-year-old Freeman, who severely sprained his right ankle Sept. 26, returned to the Dodgers' lineup in their Game 5 loss Friday to the New York Mets after missing the series' fourth game. Freeman went 0 for 5 with two strikeouts in the cleanup spot, one place below his typical No. 3 spot in Los Angeles' batting order.

"I'm going to have a conversation with him [Saturday]," Roberts said. "But I do think that his swing is not right. I'm certain it's the ankle. We'll have that conversation, but it's certainly an option to not have him in there for Game 6."

After logging a pair of hits, scoring a run and driving in another in the Dodgers' Game 1 victory, Freeman has struggled. He is 1 for his last 15 and hasn't walked. In the entire postseason, he is hitting .219/.242/.219 with seven singles, one walk, six strikeouts and no extra-base hits in 33 plate appearances.

When Freeman sat out Game 4, the Dodgers moved Max Muncy from third base to first base, Kiké Hernández from center field to third and played Andy Pages -- who homered twice Friday in the Dodgers' 12-6 loss that sent the series back to Los Angeles -- in center field. Los Angeles still leads the best-of-seven series 3-2.

Freeman, an eight-time All-Star and former NL MVP, spends hours before every game getting treatment on the ankle. During his pregame routine at Citi Field on Friday, he was grimacing as he tried to prepare the ankle to play.

After lining out to first base with runners on second and third in the first inning, Freeman grounded out to first, struck out looking, struck out swinging and flied out to center field.

CLEVELAND -- Guardians All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase gave up two runs in the ninth inning and the New York Yankees moved closer to another World Series, beating Cleveland 8-6 on Friday night to take a 3-1 lead in the American League Championship Series.

Gleyber Torres hit an RBI single and New York scored its go-ahead run on an error by shortstop Brayan Rocchio, who booted Alex Verdugo's slow grounder.

It was a messy ninth for Clase (0-2) as baseball's best reliever all season faltered for the second night in a row.

New York got three singles in the ninth off the right-hander, who gave up back-to-back homers in the eighth inning of Game 3 but was bailed out when the Guardians hit a pair of two-run homers in their final two at-bats.

"Just getting it done," Giancarlo Stanton said after the game. "He's as tough as it comes to score runs off of. Putting it in play is the most important."

Stanton hit a three-run homer and Juan Soto added a two-run shot for the Yankees, who can advance to their 41st World Series with a win in Game 5 on Saturday.

For Stanton, it was his seventh career postseason hit against the Guardians -- all home runs. He has three in this series, tied for the second most in a single ALCS in Yankees franchise history (Robinson Cano had four in the 2010 ALCS).

"I want a ring," Stanton said of his postseason success. "Anything I can do to help us win, and this was a big step. But much more work to do."

The Guardians are facing elimination in the postseason for the second time. They rallied in the AL Division Series to get past Detroit and now will have to win three straight -- two at Yankee Stadium -- to have any chance of ending their 76-year World Series drought.

For the second straight night, New York's bullpen nearly blew a late lead. The Guardians scored three runs in the seventh, one in the eighth and threatened in the ninth, putting two runners on base.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone went to Tommy Kahnle, not Luke Weaver, for the last three outs and the right-hander was able to put away Cleveland, something New York's relievers couldn't do Thursday.

Stanton's 404-foot drive in the sixth inning off Cade Smith put the Yankees ahead 6-2.

Cleveland scored three times in the seventh and rookie Jhonkensy Noel, who had a pinch-hit, ninth-inning homer in Game 3, sent a shiver through Progressive Field by flying out to the warning track.

Cleveland tied it in the eighth when the Yankees, who have hurt themselves in the field and on the bases, botched an easy play in the infield.

Bo Naylor doubled and moved up on an infield grounder. Mark Leiter Jr., added to the Yankees' ALCS roster earlier in the day as an injury replacement, got Steven Kwan to pop up. Leiter appeared to get out of the inning when David Fry, one of Cleveland's Game 3 home run stars, hit a slow grounder to the right side.

Leiter charged the ball on the grass and scooped it barehanded as he neared the foul line toward first, but his throw went through first baseman Anthony Rizzo's legs, allowing Naylor to score the tying run.

Stanton, who hit back-to-back homers with Aaron Judge in the eighth inning Thursday, gave the Yankees a four-run lead with his 15th career postseason homer.

Smith walked Soto leading off the sixth and Judge singled before Stanton drove a 1-2 fastball from Smith into the bleachers where a sizable contingent of Yankees fans were waiting for it to land.

Stanton tied Carlos Beltrán and Nelson Cruz for the most homers in the first 35 career playoff games. Stanton also moved into a tie with Judge and Babe Ruth for fourth in club history.

Information from ESPN Research and The Associated Press was used in this report.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry will sit out the team's preseason finale Friday because of a sprained right index finger.

Curry injured his finger at practice Thursday, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said ahead of Friday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kerr said he didn't believe the injury was too serious and expected Curry to be available on opening night Wednesday against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Curry originally injured the finger last Friday when it became caught in a jersey against the Sacramento Kings, and Curry was held out of the next game. On Tuesday, Curry said he was still in some discomfort but would play later that night against the Lakers.

Curry wore a wrap on his finger but ripped it off midway through the third quarter.

Originally, Kerr wanted Friday's preseason game to be a dress rehearsal for opening night. But with Curry unavailable, Kerr said he planned to tinker more with his lineups and rotations as he continues to try to find his starting five.

Meanwhile, Lakers coach JJ Redick said he was resting all of his starters - LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and D'Angelo Russell - against Golden State.

Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht, coming off a spectacular 35-point performance on Thursday, is also out after knocking knees with a Phoenix Suns player in the overtime win.

ESPN's Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.

NEW YORK -- Pete Alonso golfed an early three-run homer and the New York Mets hammered 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 RBIs 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 laced an RBI triple.

The Mets' 12 runs were one shy of matching their most in a postseason game in franchise history (13 in Game 3 of the 2015 NL Division Series against the Dodgers). They were their most in a postseason game when facing elimination.

"I think that this is about momentum, and we take the momentum back today," Alvarez told Fox after the game. "So we have to keep going with the two games in Los Angeles."

After getting blown out in three of the first four games, including the past two nights at home, the wild-card Mets saved their season for the second time in these playoffs -- both with the help of a three-run shot by Alonso. They trimmed 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 five days' rest, while the Dodgers are likely to go with another bullpen game because of a thin rotation decimated by injuries.

"We come from a lot of adversity," Díaz said. "We can beat them."

With an opportunity to pitch his hometown team into the World Series, Flaherty flopped. After throwing seven shutout innings of two-hit ball in a Game 1 win, he fell behind 3-0 four batters in when Alonso launched a low slider 432 feet to center field for his fourth homer this postseason.

Alonso, poised to become a prized free agent this fall, also connected on a go-ahead shot with the Mets facing elimination in Game 3 of their Wild Card Series in Milwaukee. That one was more dramatic, coming with New York trailing 2-0 and down to its final two outs in the ninth.

But again, Alonso went deep to help extend his tenure in a Mets uniform.

"Honestly, I was just looking for something over the middle of the plate," Alonso said. "I mean, I didn't really realize how low the pitch was. I got caught a little out front. But location-wise, it was low, but it was still over the middle of the plate. And I'm just really happy I could come through right there for the fellas. I'm just so happy because this group is so special. And I'm happy that we get to live to fight another day and play another game of baseball together."

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

After striking out 12 times Thursday night, the Mets did not strike out once in Game 5. That's the first time that has happened in the postseason since Game 2 of the 2002 World Series, when the Los Angeles Angels didn't strike out against the San Francisco Giants. The Mets joined the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates (both in Game 7 of 1960 World Series) as the only teams not to strike out in elimination games.

"We came in with the same mentality: Go and win this game and go back to L.A.," Diaz told Fox after the game. "We played really good baseball against a really good team. At the end of the day, the guys did their job and the bullpen did their job. And we got the W."

Handed an 8-1 lead, New York starter David Peterson was unable to make it through the fourth.

Dodgers rookie Andy Pages homered twice and drove in four runs. Mookie Betts went deep for the second consecutive game, helping Los Angeles cut an eight-run deficit to 10-6.

But then relievers Ryne Stanek and Edwin Díaz settled things down, and the Mets put this one away. Stanek worked a career-high 2 innings for the victory, and Díaz got six outs without permitting a run.

Information from ESPN Research and The Associated Press was used in this report.