LOS ANGELES -- Before Game 4 of the National League Division Series last week, the Mets flew in Daniel Murphy to throw a ceremonial first pitch. Murphy received a king’s welcome in Queens, and for good reason: nine years earlier, he had lifted the Mets to the NL pennant with one of the greatest individual postseasons in franchise history.

Mark Vientos is well on his way to having a similar type of October impact.

Vientos hit a grand slam in the second inning of NL Championship Series Game 2 on Monday to lead the Mets to a 7-3 win over the Dodgers, evening this best-of-seven series at one game apiece. He already has 11 postseason RBIs, matching Murphy’s total in 2015. And the Mets still have plenty more games on their schedule.

Facing right-hander Landon Knack, on whom the Dodgers had hoped to rely for some measure of bulk innings, the Mets rallied in the second on a hit, a walk and a Tyrone Taylor RBI double. With men on second and third and two outs, the Dodgers intentionally walked Francisco Lindor to face Vientos, who hit a 102.3 mph line drive with just enough oomph to power it over Dodger Stadium’s right-center-field fence.

"To be honest, I took it personal," Vientos told FOX after the game. "I was like, 'OK, you want me up to the plate? I’m going to try to drive in a run.' I was trying to simplify the game. I wasn’t trying to do too much. But I did take it personal that they walked Lindor to load the bases for me."

It was the Mets’ second grand slam this month, following Lindor’s NLDS Game 4 shot, which makes them one of 13 teams to hit multiple slams in a postseason. Two innings later, Vientos singled to complete his sixth multihit effort in nine playoff games. His 14 hits overall are tied for ninth in Mets history in a single postseason, while his 11 RBIs are one fewer than Curtis Granderson (2015) and John Olerud (1999), who share the franchise record.

Lindor also led off Monday’s game with a homer against Ryan Brasier.

The Dodgers had trouble hitting Mets starter Sean Manaea early in the afternoon, but Max Muncy tagged him for a leadoff homer in the fifth inning, and Manaea was unable to record an out in the sixth. With the bases loaded, Phil Maton entered and allowed two inherited runs before inducing an inning-ending double play ball from Kiké Hernández.

Ryne Stanek and Edwin Díaz then combined on the final eight outs to even the series.