Steve Webb
CHAVEZ RAVINE, CA — That Pete Alonso is a one strong boy. After homering for the lone run in Friday’s game, the big Mets first baseman went yard twice on Saturday, driving in five runs to lead the Mets to their first victory in this series. The Dodgers had a 4-1 lead for a hot minute in this one, but Walker Buehler‘s troubles continued, and the Mets scored seven unanswered runs in the Mets’ 9-4 victory at Dodger Stadium.
Lindor gets to Buehler early
Walker Buehler got the start in this one and at first, it looked like he might be on point. He struck out with first two hitters on just a handful of pitches. However, enter Francisco Lindor. Buehler and Mr. Smile locked up in a nine-pitch at-bat in which Lindor fouled off the best of Buehler’s pitches. Then, Buehler hung a curveball to the switch hitter Lindor, which he promptly deposited in the Mets’ bullpen for a 1-0 lead.
Betts’ clutch double clears the bases
The Mets weren’t in the lead for long, though. In the next inning, starter David Peterson ran into some control trouble and was let down by an error on the infield, and before long the Dodgers had loaded up the bases with two outs. And, usually, walking the number 9 hitter to let Mookie Betts bat with ducks on the pond is not a great idea. Betts ripped a double to the gap that easily cleared the bases to give the Dodgers a 4-1 lead after just two innings.
Mets chase Buehler in the third, add on in the fourth
Usually, if you give Walker Buehler a three-run lead, it’s game, set, match. However, these are not usual times for the Dodgers’ ace. And it showed in the top of the third inning. Buehler gave up two straight walks and a run-scoring double to Sterling Marte before he had recorded an out in the inning. And even that out, a ground ball to the right side, scored another Mets run. With one out and a man on third, that brought up Pete Alonso for the coup de grâce. The Polar Bear reached deep down in the zone to muscle a a low slider into the the left field seats to put the Mets on top 5-4.
With his early exit (the earliest of his career), Buehler’s ERA ballooned to 3.84. Clearly, something just ain’t right with the Dodgers’ righty. And this has been going on for a while. Over his last seven starts, Buehler is 4-1, but his ERA over that time has been 4.71 and his WHIP a completely uncharacteristic 1.49. A lot of heads shaking in the Dodgers’ front office tonight, to be sure.
To Buehler’s troubles, add a solo shot from Eduardo Escobar off reliever Justin Bruihl in the the next inning and the Dodgers were playing from two runs behind for the first time in the series. If the Dodgers were to win this one, it would take a comeback.
Alonso buries the Dodgers in the 7th
After Yency Almonte and David Price did a good job out of the pen in the middle part of the game, things sort of fell apart for Brusdar Graterol in the seventh inning. The Bazooka gave up a couple of hard hit singles to left field before retiring Francisco Lindor on a fly ball in the same direction. However, in the play that completely changed the complexion of the rest of the game, Pete Alonso took 100 miles an hour worth of sinker and drilled it into the right field seats for his second home run of the night. And that was about it for the night. The Dodgers were in a hole that there was no digging out of.
The Dodgers basically threw in the towel after an eighth inning rally fizzled out. Zach McKinstry came in to pitch. However, the umps put the kibosh on that idea because according to the rule book, a position player can’t pitch unless the lead is six runs or more. Evan Phillips had to be brought in to throw the final three outs.
Urias goes for the series win on Sunday
The Dodgers only managed five hits in this contest, and could have used a clutch hit or two in this one when it was still close. But it never came, and the team had to go quietly in that last half of the game. The series with the Mets wraps up on Sunday afternoon with a matchup of Julio Urias and Trevor Williams. 1:10 start. This will bring an end to this 31-games-in-30 days marathon, and a welcome day off will be waiting for the team as they travel to Chicago for a interleague series with the White Sox starting on Tuesday.
Cans of Corn…
- In a pre-game ceremony, Gil Hodges‘ number 14 was retired. Hodges, who died in 1972 at the age of 47, was the heart of the team in the 1950s, and played a couple of seasons with the LA version of the team. He will be inducted into the HOF later this summer.
- Freddie Freeman got a couple of hits and stole a base. Good to see, even if one of the hits was a bleeder in the infield.
- Trea Turner’s hitting streak ended on Saturday at 26 straight games.
- With Edwin Rios now on the IL with a hamstring issue, former Olympic speed-skater Eddy Alvarez made his Dodger debut, pinch hitting and playing a few innings at third.
- Andrew Heaney had a decent return to the mound today in OKC. He pitched three innings, and gave up one ER on two hits. The best news: 5 K’s.
- Dodgers broke out the City Connect jerseys for the first time this year. The unis are featuring a new hat with a black brim and “Los Dodgers” on the side of the cap. Looks nice.
