There was some back-and-forth between Francisco Alvarez and Andy Pages, who cro sed home plate after his first home run and . In the immediate aftermath, it was unclear what was said. More clear was that, amid a quiet postseason, it was not just Alvarezs mouth that spoke up Friday. The previously slumping Alvarez carried a loud bat that woke up just in time, coming through with three hits that included a key double and RBI single in the s at Citi Field, which sent the NLCS back to Los Angeles. Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) doubles during the second inning. Robert Sabo for NY Post Alvarez has Ryan Zeferjahn Jersey been among the most scrutinized Mets in what had been a postseason to forget. The 22-year-old was consistently flailing in large and small moments alike, going 5-for-35 with one walk, 13 strikeouts and no extra-base hits in his first 10 postseason games. Explore More The catcher has appeared to bring his roller-coaster regular season into October, and hes suddenly riding the highs: After five hits in 10 games, he has recorded four hits in his past two games. I know when youre struggling, youve got a lot of people in your ears and you need to do this, need to do that, manager Carlos Mendoza said after Alvarezs 3-for-4 night. Especially this time of the year, the simpler the better. Thats what he did. Just trying to stay short to the ball, see the ball. A former stud prospect who rose through the system as a bat-first catcher is now showing off that bat at the highest level. Alvarez sprayed the ball around in in him. Dodgers Andy Pages hits a home run against the New York Mets during the fourth inning in Game 5. AP Mendoza repeatedly has said Alvarez is his catcher and repeatedly has , who has not started a postseason game. That move looked smart when Alvarez smacked a double over right fielder Mookie Betts head in the second inning. Alvarez would be stranded at third in the frame, his teammates doing what he has done too often this postseason in failing in the clutch. Follow The Posts coverage of the Mets playoff run: He atoned in the next inning. With two outs and Starling Marte on third against Jack Flaherty, Alvarez hung with a second-pitch slider and slapped an RBI single through the left side. The clutch baton was pa sed, Francisco Lindor then cracking an RBI triple before Brandon Nimmo singled in another run. Not trying to swing too hard and just be short to the ball, be on time, and just basically relax, Mendoza said of Alvarez, who Mendoza had said was trying to do too much earlier in the series. Francisco Alvarez doubles during the second inning of the Mets Game 5 win. Robert Sabo for NY Post Offense, Alvarez will tell you, is not his primary job. He whiffed on a foul pop from Max Muncy in the fifth inning, which mattered when Muncy walked and Pages drilled a three-run home run. But otherwise, Alvarez did well to handle a pitching staff that danced out of enough trouble to guarantee a Game 6 a game that Alvarez surely will start, this time without much controversy. Delivering insights on all things Amazins Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! I know its easy for me to sit here and say it, but hes also doing it. Hes a really good player, Mendoza said. Ive been saying it. And hes showing it right now. Willie Calhoun Jersey