Dodgers build momentum and make Mets sweat during back half of NLCS Game 2 loss

Grimace and Jose "OMG" Iglesias will certainly do plenty to hype up the New York Mets in between-innings scoreboard graphics during Game 3 at Citi Field, but the Los Angeles Dodgers sowed some necessary seeds of doubt in what swiftly appeared to be a lost Game 2.

Through five innings at Dodger Stadium in an afternoon contest on Monday, the only Los Angeles run was a Max Muncy solo homer, and the Mets were still firmly in control of the game thanks to Mark Vientos' second-inning grand slam. Two runners reached to begin the sixth, but all but the most optimistic Dodgers fans would've been hard-pressed to see a path towards creating real strain.

That's when Iglesias himself stepped into the middle of the action, running over, past, and through an incoming double play ball. Suddenly, the bases were loaded with nobody out. Suddenly, Manaea was yanked. Suddenly, the Dodgers had four innings of the Mets bullpen to observe and derail. It could've been worse.

And though the inning ended 6-3 on a barely-turned double play bobbled in myriad ways, the Dodgers were officially back in the Mets' heads, as manager Carlos Mendoza cycled through both his best and worst relievers.

Dodgers nearly rallied in sixth, ninth innings vs. Mets' beleaguered bullpen in NLCS Game 2

Ryne Stanek recorded the first two outs of the eighth, but still managed to bring the tying run to the plate before Edwin "An Erratic Four Outs" Diaz bailed him out.

Diaz was given an insurance run in the top of the ninth, but still put two runners on base with nobody out, stressing and creaking and straining all frayed Queens arm chairs a little bit further.

The Dodgers went down without scoring, but it didn't matter much. They imbued late meaning upon a bullpen Game 2 that felt decided by the second frame. The extra cracks in the Mets' veneer were the second-best outcome possible, other than a stirring victory.

Mets fans will be ready to make noise in Game 3. Luckily, after Game 2, the Dodgers know exactly how to clench them up.