Mets demolished again as playoff magic evaporates to put season on the brink

<p>The Mets are running out of magic, and now running out of time to save their season. For the second straight night at Citi Field, the Mets were easily disposed of by the Dodgers, falling 10-2 in Game 4 of the NLCS, and now their season is on the brink of extinction as they trail 3-1 in the series. Mookie Betts tormented the Amazin’s, breaking the game open in the sixth with a two-run homer and finishing 4-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs. The Mets had a chance for one of their signature comeback moments in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with no outs. But Jose Iglesias struck out swinging, and pinch-hitters Jeff McNeil and Jesse Winker each flied out, the latest sign that the Mets’ mojo is fading. Shohei Ohtani hit a home run on the second pitch of the game and scored four runs after drawing three walks. Mark Vientos answered with a solo homer of his own in the bottom of the first. The Dodgers grinded their way to a pair of runs in the third before Brandon Nimmo, injured foot and all, narrowly beat out a double play on his grounder to allow Francisco Alvarez to score, cutting the Mets’ deficit to 3-2. Jose Quintana was pulled in the fourth and charged with five runs on five hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings. Betts drove in two with a double in the fourth off Jose Butto, and from there, the Mets had no answers.</p>