3 Mets players who deserve credit for the series win over the Dodgers

New York Mets v Los Angeles Dodgers
New York Mets v Los Angeles Dodgers / Ronald Martinez/GettyImages
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After sweeping the Oakland Athletics, the New York Mets came to Los Angeles on a four-game winning streak. They looked to carry that momentum as they prepared to face a Dodgers team that might not be quite as formidable as they have been in the past, but they're still the Dodgers. They find a way to win.

The Mets stood up to the tough challenge and wound up taking two of three. Both of the games they won felt improbable at times, but the Mets pulled out an important series win.

The Mets wouldn't be heading to San Francisco with five series wins in six attempts without these three players.

1) NY Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo is as hot as he's ever been right now

Brandon Nimmo got off to a slow start this season after inking an eight-year deal to remain a Met. He was drawing a ton of walks, but was hitting just .188 after the second game of the Padres series. Since then, he has 16 hits in 31 at-bats. He has 13 hits in 26 at-bats on this road trip. He's absolutely on fire.

In the first game of this series in Los Angeles, Nimmo recorded three hits in five at-bats including a double. He scored a run, and played a big role in the Mets victory.

The second game of the series saw Nimmo go hitless in four at-bats, but he deserved much better. He reached on an error after hitting a 102.5 mph line drive to right. He had a 98.5 mph lineout in the third, and a 101.9 mph lineout in the sixth. All three liners came off of Clayton Kershaw, a guy the rest of the Mets lineup couldn't do anything against.

The finale of this series was when Nimmo was at his best, as he recorded his second career five-hit game. He hit his first home run of the season to give the Mets a 2-1 lead, and hit four other singles. He scored two runs.

Nimmo was the catalyst, and it's hard to envision the team winning the third game in particular without him.

2) NY Mets reliever Jimmy Yacabonis saved the team with his quality outing

Jimmy Yacabonis entered a seemingly impossible situation as the Mets tried to take this series. The Mets could've used some length after Tylor Megill went just five innings in the second game of the series, but Scherzer was tossed after being under suspicion for using a foreign substance.

Yacabonis came into a scoreless game in the fourth inning. He allowed a run to put the Mets behind, but limited the damage, and thanks to Nimmo's home run, he departed the game with a 2-1 lead.

Yacabonis went 2.2 innings and allowed the one run on two hits with one walk. The Dodgers lineup isn't quite as intimidating as it's been in years past, but facing guys like Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy is no easy task.

Yacabonis was able to get the Mets from the fourth almost through the sixth. He was pulled after throwing 49 pitches in relief.

These performances often go unnoticed, but again, it's hard to envision the Mets winning this game without him. Yacabonis is one of the worst if not the worst reliever in this Mets bullpen. He saved them from having to use more of the 'pen than they did with his heroics, and has undoubtedly earned himself more appearances with the Mets.

3) NY Mets reliever Drew Smith stepped up late in both wins

Drew Smith had a bit of an uneven start to his season. Heading into the Dodgers series, Smith had allowed two runs in 6.1 innings pitched which is solid, but he had allowed five hits while also walking five in those innings.

With Edwin Diaz out, Smith moved up in the Mets depth chart as the third-best right-hander in the 'pen. With the Mets needing to use their bullpen a ton in the early going, Smith has been a vital piece.

Smith showed his value in the first game of the series when he entered in a tight spot. With the Mets in front 8-6 in the bottom of the eighth, he inherited runners on second and third with two outs. A hit ties the game, an out gives the Mets a path to victory.

Smith threw four straight fastballs against Miguel Vargas and struck him out to end the inning. The Mets would go on to win the game with that 8-6 score.

In the finale of the series, Smith's number was called in the seventh inning with the Mets ahead 2-1. He got David Peralta and Luke Williams to ground out before striking out Austin Wynns to complete a perfect inning. Smith retired all four batters he faced in this series, recording two big holds in two extremely tight spots.

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