Dodgers’ winning streak snapped with loss to Mets in series finale

LOS ANGELES — All good things have to come to end. And that was exactly what happened to the Dodgers’ nine-game winning streak at Dodger Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The visiting Mets scored thee times in the top of the first, and the Dodgers never led in the game, finally falling by a score of 7-2. It was strong performance from Mets’ starter Marcus Stroman, and a late home run form JD Davis that sealed the Dodgers’ fate. They did finish the homestand at 6-1, and are in a good spot going into San Diego on Tuesday. But this one was pretty forgettable all the way around.

Price surrenders three in the first

David Price got the start for the Dodgers, and his first inning was a little shaky. He gave up three runs on a walk, a double and two singles. The big hit in the inning was a run-scoring double from crowd favorite Javier Baez, just off the IL for the Mets. Quickly the Dodgers were in an 0-3 hole before they’d even gotten to the bat rack. After the first inning, though, Price settled down and pitched three scoreless innings before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the fourth.

Dodgers claw back into the game with a pair

The fourth inning was the Dodgers’ best off of Mets starter Marcus Stroman, who pitched a very good game on Sunday afternoon. With one out, Corey Seager hit humpback liner into center for a single. After another out from Will Smith, Chris Taylor hit a hot shot to third baseman JD Davis. The ball ate Davis up and bounced away from him on the infield and Taylor had a single. Now with runners at first and second, the Dodgers had a little two-out rally going. When AJ Pollock took a walk from Stroman the bases were loaded up for Cody Bellinger.

Bellinger comes up with a big hit, but gets thrown out on the bases

The 2019 MVP came up with a very nice at-bat. He got himself into a 2-1 hitter’s count and then ripped a solid single into right. With two outs, the runners were moving on contact, so both Seager and Taylor were able to score.

Having cut the lead to 3-2, Dave Roberts pulled David Price from the game and sent up Billy McKinney. Then a little sloppiness set in. It looked like Roberts might have put on a double steal, but Pollock missed the sign. Cody Bellinger broke for second on a 2-1 count, but put on the brakes halfway there. The idea, of course, would be that Bellinger would get in a run down long enough for Pollock to streak home with the tying run. Unfortunately, none of that happened, and Bellinger was tagged out without much fuss.

Mets put it on ice with late runs

Brusdar Graterol was the first out of the pen on Sunday, and pitched two scoreless innings. However, his outing was fraught with drama as in the sixth, the Mets loaded up the bases. However, the Bazooka was able to record a rare strikeout, and wriggled out of the jam with a force-out at home on a weak comebacker from pitcher Marcus Stroman.

It was the seventh inning that put the game on ice for the Mets. Phil Bickford came on in relief of Graterol, and it looked like it was going to be a quick, Bickford-like inning. But with two outs, Javy Baez got a hustle double to left to keep the inning alive. JD Davis, who’s had a nice series for the Mets, came up and battled Bickford for nine pitches. On the last pitch of the at-bat, he mashed a ball over the left field fence to put the Mets up 5-2. The Mets’ tacked on in the ninth on a bases-loaded walk and an RBI groundout for a final score of 7-2. The Dodgers went quietly in the bottom of the frame to bring the game to a disappointing end.

Shake it off, on to San Diego

And, with the Giants’ 2-1 victory up in Oakland on Sunday, the Dodgers’ deficit in the division is back up to 2 1/2 games. Still, the Dodgers are a much better position than they were a few short days ago, having cut the Giants’ five-game lead in half.

After an off-day on Monday, the Dodgers head down the 5 Freeway for another series against the Padres. Although this time, the Padres are fighting for their post-season lives, having become suddenly a very average baseball team. Buehler and Scherzer will get the last two games of the series. No Tuesday night starter has been announced yet. Should be a good three-game set.