Los Angeles- The New York Mets delivered a resounding statement on Thursday, June 5, 2025, with a dominant 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at iconic Dodger Stadium, effectively winning the season series in a highly anticipated Dodgers Mets showdown. This decisive performance, fueled by a stellar offensive display from Pete Alonso and a masterful pitching effort from Griffin Canning, sent ripples through the National League, showcasing the Mets’ potent blend of power and pitching prowess.
From the outset, it was clear the Mets arrived in Los Angeles with a singular purpose, seeking to assert their authority against a Dodgers team that had previously eliminated them in the 2024 National League Championship Series. While the series had already seen two thrilling extra-inning contests, the Mets left no doubt in this pivotal matchup.
The first inning set the tone. After a Dodgers defensive miscue opened the door, Juan Soto’s RBI groundout brought home the initial run. But it was Pete Alonso who truly ignited the Mets’ offense, launching a majestic two-run home run to the opposite field, immediately giving New York a commanding 3-0 lead. This early blast not only put the Dodgers on their heels but also served as a preview of Alonso’s impact throughout the game.
Mets starter Griffin Canning was exceptional on the mound. The right-hander stifled a star-studded Dodgers lineup for six scoreless innings, surrendering only three hits and issuing just one walk while striking out seven. Canning consistently located his pitches, mixing a sharp fastball with a deceptive changeup that left Dodgers hitters, including the formidable Shohei Ohtani, flailing. His performance was a testament to his impressive season, further lowering his ERA to an impressive 2.90 and solidifying his role as a key component of the Mets’ pitching staff, which has been leading MLB in ERA this season.
The Dodgers, despite their offensive firepower boasting talents like Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts, struggled to find their rhythm against Canning. Their vaunted 2-5 hitters combined for a dismal 0-for-15 performance with only one walk, a stark indicator of New York’s pitching dominance. Even after Canning’s exit, the Mets bullpen, particularly José Castillo, navigated through moments of pressure, ensuring the lead remained intact. Castillo worked out of a seventh-inning jam, striking out two batters with the tying run at the plate, showcasing the depth and resilience of the Mets’ relief corps.
While the pitching held firm, Pete Alonso once again delivered the knockout blow in the eighth inning. Following a hit-by-pitch and a walk, the “Polar Bear” unleashed a towering 447-foot, three-run blast to deep left-center field, pushing the Mets’ lead to an insurmountable 6-0. This multi-homer performance marked Alonso’s first of the season with five RBIs, elevating him to the National League lead in RBIs with 53 and tying Darryl Strawberry for the most multi-homer games in Mets franchise history. With this offensive outburst, Alonso inches closer to etching his name further into Mets’ lore, now just two home runs shy of tying David Wright for second on the franchise’s all-time home run list.
Andy Pages provided the Dodgers’ lone run with a solo homer in the ninth inning, a small consolation in an otherwise frustrating night for the Los Angeles faithful. The loss marked the Dodgers’ third in four games, raising questions about their recent performance in what has been a challenging stretch of the season.
This Dodgers Mets showdown highlighted the ongoing narrative of a burgeoning rivalry, with the Mets showing they are more than capable of competing with, and even dominating, the reigning National League champions. As the 2025 MLB season progresses, this victory serves as a significant milestone for the Mets, underscoring their legitimacy as a top contender and providing ample fodder for further discussion and analysis in the highly competitive landscape of Major League Baseball. The series finale, featuring probable starters Landon Knack for the Dodgers and David Peterson for the Mets, promises another captivating chapter in this intriguing rivalry.
