The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets delivered one of the most gripping games of the 2025 MLB regular season as the Dodgers emerged with a hard-fought 7–5 victory in a 13-inning thriller at Citi Field on May 23. This highly anticipated National League clash featured a mixture of standout performances, late-game drama, and controversial moments that made it a fitting opener to the Dodgers vs Mets Game 1 2025 series. The Dodgers set the tone early in the third inning when Teoscar Hernández, one of the game’s key contributors, lined a two-run single to center field to cap a rally that gave Los Angeles a 3–0 advantage. The inning included a disputed play involving Dodgers outfielder Michael Conforto, who tagged up and scored after Mets outfielders Juan Soto and Tyrone Taylor bobbled a fly ball. Despite a Mets challenge, the ruling stood, underscoring a lesser-known tagging rule that allows runners to advance once a fielder touches the ball, not necessarily catches it. The Mets responded in the fifth inning with a pair of runs, but Will Smith’s solo home run in the sixth reestablished a multi-run lead for Los Angeles. With the Dodgers leading 5–2 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Mets mounted an electric rally. Jeff McNeil delivered a clutch two-run triple before Tyrone Taylor drove him in with an RBI single, tying the game and igniting the Citi Field crowd. That comeback forced extra innings and ultimately pushed the teams into the 13th frame, where Hernández once again delivered, this time with a go-ahead RBI double off Mets reliever Jorge López. Andy Pages added insurance with a sacrifice fly, giving the Dodgers the final two-run margin. Alex Vesia then shut down the Mets in the bottom half to close out the nearly six-hour contest. Despite the Dodgers’ win, Shohei Ohtani had a modest performance, going 1-for-6 at the plate. He managed a single in the ninth inning but was quickly caught stealing second base by Mets catcher Francisco Álvarez. Ohtani, who leads the National League in home runs and runs scored, did not make a major offensive impact in this particular game but remains one of the season’s most productive hitters. On the other side, Juan Soto struggled through a difficult outing, finishing 0-for-5 and continuing a downward trend in offensive production. His current batting average sits at .236, and the game only added to the scrutiny surrounding his performance since signing a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets during the offseason. Additionally, Soto’s defensive miscommunication with Taylor in the third inning contributed to the Dodgers’ early momentum and served as a flashpoint moment in the game. For the Dodgers, Teoscar Hernández stood out as the clear MVP of the night, going 2-for-5 with three RBIs and two game-defining hits. Will Smith’s solo homer and consistent catching behind the plate also anchored the Dodgers both offensively and defensively. For the Mets, Jeff McNeil’s late-game heroics provided a silver lining, but the team’s inability to sustain the rally through extra innings left them with a disappointing result. This loss was a missed opportunity for the Mets to capitalize on home field advantage and generate momentum in a competitive National League East. The two clubs will continue their series at Citi Field over the weekend before heading to Los Angeles for a four-game set beginning June 2. With both franchises eyeing deep postseason runs, every game in this season series carries weight. Dodgers vs Mets Game 1 2025 offered a compelling snapshot of two talented rosters battling for early-season supremacy, and if this opening game is any indication, fans can expect more fireworks as the series unfolds.
