Mark Vientos hits grand slam for Mets in NLCS Game 2

LOS ANGELES — Postseason breakout star Mark Vientos is back on track.

After going hitless in four at-bats with three strikeouts on Sunday and lining out in his first plate appearance on Monday afternoon, Vientos crushed a grand slam in the second inning to give the Mets an early 6-0 lead over the Dodgers in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium.

Vientos battled back from a 1-2 count to work a full count against Dodgers bulk reliever Landon Knack, then rocketed the ninth pitch of the matchup — a middle-middle 95.1 mph four-seamer — over the right-center-field wall. According to Statcast, the home run had an exit velocity of 102.3 mph and traveled a projected 391 feet.

Vientos hit the third grand slam in Mets postseason history, joining Lindor (2024 NL Division Series Game 4) and Edgardo Alfonzo (1999 NLDS Game 1). New York became the 13th club to hit at least two grand slams in the same postseason.

The 24-year-old Vientos is tied with Pete Alonso for the team lead in homers (three) and paces the club in RBIs (11) this postseason.