Mets still alive; Yankees up, 3-1

MANILA, Philippines — The New York Mets kept their magical season going, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers, 12-6, on Friday to stay alive in their Major League Baseball playoff series.

Pete Alonso hit a three-run home run in the first inning and the Mets piled up five runs in the third on the way to an 8-1 lead, then held on to cut the deficit to 3-2 in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series. The Dodgers will host Game 6 on Sunday.

“We’ll be ready,” Alonso vowed. “We love opportunities.”

The winner of the series will take on either New York or Cleveland in the World Series. The Yankees beat the Guardians, 8-6, for a 3-1 stranglehold on the American League Championship Series.