For the first time since 2006, the New York Mets are headed to the National League Championship Series after a 3-2 Game 5 comeback victory over the host Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night.
A solo home run from Daniel Murphy broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the sixth inning to put the cherry on top of one of the best games of his career. The longtime Mets infielder had a hand in each of the team's three runs, driving in two and scoring the other as the party started after Jeurys Familia's six-out save clinched a trip to the NLCS.
MLB caught the moment teammates rushed Familia:
Overjoyed by getting the final outs of the night, Familia jumped in celebration, impressing the Outside Corner's Ian Casselberry:
It was euphoria for a fanbase that has experienced its fair share of turmoil over the past decade. One fan didn't hesitate to show affection for manager Terry Collins, as Fox Sports' Jimmy Traina noted:
The players weren't afraid to show the manager some love, either, as they celebrated on the field moments after Familia's final out, per the Mets' official Twitter account:
It was down to the clubhouse for a bubbly celebration as ESPN.com's Adam Rubin braved the elements to catch this shot in the locker room:
The Mets also caught a few moments on video after the champagne started flowing:
Rookie Noah Syndergaard, who relieved starter Jacob deGrom, pitched a shutdown seventh inning in Game 5. He took to Twitter during the Mets' party:
On Friday, the Chicago Cubs, with an arsenal of young bats, will travel to Citi Field for Game 1. With the anguish and agony that these two teams have faced over the years, this will be one of the most entertaining championship series the sport has seen in some time.
Chicago has not won a World Series since 1908, and the Mets haven't captured a title since 1986. However, this series will be about much more than the prolonged championship droughts. The Cubs feature two potentially dominant starting pitchers in Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester, while the Mets boast a deep rotation with deGrom, Syndergaard, Matt Harvey and Steven Matz.
Chicago will have its two aces ready to go in the first two games, but the Mets have more quality starting arms available throughout a long series. How those New York arms deal with the power-hitting Cubs lineup that drilled 10 home runs against the St. Louis Cardinals in the last round will likely dictate which team represents the National League in the World Series.
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