Mets’ General Manager Brodie van Waganen’s vision came through. The Mets beat the Dodgers with a combination of great starting pitching, small-ball, power and a non-imploding bullpen. Just like he drew it up.
Both starting pitchers — Steven Matz for the Mets and Rich Hill for Los Angeles — spent the first two innings feeling each other out and trading base runners. New York opened the scoring in the third, when Matz led off with an infield single. Amed Rosario followed with a more traditional base hit to left. J.D. Davis flew out to right, moving Matz to third, from which he would score when Michael Conforto grounded out to third. The lead didn’t last all that long, though, because in the bottom of the third, Matz issued a two-out walk to David Freese and Cody Bellinger followed that with his 20th home run of the year, a real shot to the back of the stands in right center. But the Mets would tie it right back up the next inning, when Todd Frazier hit laser beam of his own into the pavilion in left center.
There the game stood for a bit, each pitcher keeping his opponent at bay. That would change quickly in the seventh. Yimi Garcia replaced Hill for the top of the inning and issued an eight-pitch walk to Adeiny Hechavarria leading off. Dylan Floro quickly replaced Garcia, but Aaron Altherr pinch hit for Matz and also drew a walk. Rosario then dropped down a sacrifice bunt, but Floro threw wildly to first and everybody ended up safe. Floro struck out Davis and was immediately replaced by Scott Alexander. Conforto promptly skulled his second pitch to the opposite field, clearing the left field fence for a go-ahead grand slam.
Robert Gsellman relieved Matz and gave one run back when Will Smith — no, not that one — led off with a double and crossed to third on a Wilson Ramos passed ball. Alex Verdugo walked and after Joc Pederson and Justin Turner both struck out, Matt Beaty hit a liner off Gsellman and into center field, making the score 6-3, Mets. They would get their revenge in the top of the eighth. Carlos Gomez led off with a double and Rosario hit a clutch two-out triple. Jeurys Familia came on to hold it and gave up a walk and a single, but got the rookie Smith to hit into an inning-ending double play. Edwin Diaz locked it down in the ninth, after a leadoff double by Verdugo.
The series continues out in sunny LA tomorrow, Noah Syndergaard taking on rookie sensation Walker Buehler.
I was surprised they used Diaz in the 9th but perhaps they thought they’d need Santiago to go multiple innings today.
Gut Reaction; the Dodgers wrapped a present and Conforto opened it up. Walk, walk, error then a grand slam. Good teams capitalize mistakes and good players deliver. Conforto is a good player. The Mets took a step last night toward been as good team. This road trip will tell.
Frazier is playing good. In his last 7 games he has a .906 OPS.He is stepping up when the team need him.
Matz’ arm and legs were excellent. His speed and hustle single- handedly produced the first run.
CarGo (.738 OPS) has wrestled the starting center fielder job from Lagares (.527 OPS). Lagares is in jeopardy of DFA when Nimmo returns.
In the eight and ninth is a non saved situation why would you used your best two relievers? Gsellman just strike out Bellinger to end the 7th and should have stayed in the 8th.At this point, Gsellman is your third best reliever so ride him until he gets in trouble Calloway just blew up him bullpen for no apparent reason in the second game of a 7 games road trip.
I’m with Mike Vaccaro regarding this trip: go 3-4 and gladly take it.
+1 Charlie. This may be the only win we get in this series. This Dodger lineup is going to feast on Syndergaard the way he’s been pitching and going against Buehler, he can’t afford to cough up more than 2 runs. Game 4 looks like a certain loss with Vargas against Ryu. Even if Vargas gives us a solid 5 innings our short-handed bullpen is not capable of holding the Dodgers in check. Meanwhile the Mets have been struggling against lefties and Ryu has been unhittable this year. We’ll need to take 2 of 3 in Arizona – no easy feat the way they’ve been playing.