Mets' Vientos after slam: 'Took it personal' when Dodgers walked Lindor
New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos had a little extra fire in his belly when he stepped into the box in the second inning Monday.
After the Dodgers elected to intentionally walk Francisco Lindor to load the bases, Vientos made Los Angeles pay by launching a grand slam that broke Game 2 open in an eventual 7-3 Mets victory.
Vientos admitted postgame that the Dodgers' choice to face him with the bases loaded over Lindor with two on gave him some extra motivation.
"I took it personal," he told Tom Verducci of Fox Sports. "I was like, 'OK. I mean, you want me up to the plate, I'm gonna try to drive in a run.' Honestly, I was trying to simplify the game. I wasn't trying to do too much. But I did take it personal that they walked Lindor for the bases loaded for me."
The slam, which stood up as the game-winning blast, was the latest act in Vientos' breakout postseason. The 24-year-old is now hitting .378/.410/.676 with three homers and 11 RBIs over 39 playoff plate appearances. He also had a game-winning hit in Game 1 of the NLDS against Philadelphia.
Vientos became the youngest player to hit a grand slam in an LCS game and only the third Met to hit one in the playoffs.
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