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LOS ANGELES — In a nail-biting rematch of last year’s National League Championship Series, the New York Mets secured a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night, June 2, 2025, thanks to a clutch 10th-inning RBI double from Francisco Alvarez. The Mets overcame a late-game surge by Dodgers’ superstar Shohei Ohtani, whose heroics nearly turned the tide in a game that showcased both teams’ resilience.

The game, played under the bright lights of Dodger Stadium, saw the Mets jump to an early lead when Francisco Lindor crushed a leadoff home run on the second pitch from Dodgers starter Dustin May. Lindor’s 14th homer of the season—and his sixth leadoff shot, tying Ohtani for the major league lead—set the tone for a Mets offense that has been firing on all cylinders, having now won eight of their last nine games.

Mets pitcher Paul Blackburn, making his first major league appearance since last August after battling back and knee injuries, delivered a stellar performance. He threw five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out Ohtani twice, keeping the Dodgers’ potent lineup at bay. On the other side, Dustin May was equally impressive for LA, yielding six hits over six innings while navigating a dangerous Mets lineup.

The Dodgers finally broke through in the seventh when Ohtani launched a 424-foot solo home run off Mets reliever Max Kranick. The blast, Ohtani’s 23rd of the season and his fifth in seven games, tied him with Seattle’s Cal Raleigh for the major league lead. The Dodgers tied the game in the ninth when Tommy Edman singled, stole second, and scored on Ohtani’s deep sacrifice fly to left field. The rally handed Mets closer Edwin Díaz his first blown save in 14 chances this season, as Díaz, pitching for the third time in four days, couldn’t hold the lead.

But the Mets refused to back down. In the top of the 10th, Francisco Alvarez, who had been mired in a slump with no RBIs in his last 57 at-bats since May 4, stepped up with a game-changing moment. Facing struggling Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott, Alvarez drove a double to right field, scoring the go-ahead run. Lindor followed with an RBI single three pitches later, driving in pinch-runner Starling Marte to give the Mets a 4-3 lead. The Dodgers mounted a late threat in the bottom of the 10th, with José Castillo walking Freddie Freeman and allowing an RBI single to Andy Pages, but the Mets held firm to seal the win.

Alvarez’s double was a breakthrough for the young catcher, who had been working to regain his form after a challenging stretch. Lindor, meanwhile, continued his remarkable streak— the Mets have now won their last 27 games when he homers, the second-longest such streak in major league history, trailing only the Brooklyn Dodgers’ 29-game run from 1951-53 when Carl Furillo homered.

The victory improved the Mets’ record to 38-22, putting them on a 103-win pace for the season, while the Dodgers, despite the loss, remain a formidable force in the National League. The two teams will face off again on Tuesday, with Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (0-0, 4.91 ERA) taking the mound against Mets right-hander Tylor Megill (4-4, 3.52 ERA) in what promises to be another exciting matchup.

This game was a testament to the Mets’ grit and determination, as they overcame Ohtani’s brilliance and a late Dodgers rally to secure a hard-fought win. For Mets fans, it’s a promising sign of what this team can achieve as the season progresses.