One night after scoring eight runs, the Mets were handcuffed by a vintage Clayton Kershaw outing and they fell to the Dodgers, 5-0, Tuesday night in L.A.
Brandon Nimmo reached third base on an error to lead off the game. Kershaw proceeded to strike out the side to strand Nimmo at third. The Mets did nothing against Kershaw until the seventh inning, when they put two runners on after two outs. Mark Canha had a great at-bat, fouling off pitch after pitch until singling to right. Jeff McNeil followed with a line drive single to put runners on the corners. But Tommy Pham struck out to end the inning.
Tylor Megill continued the HR barrage allowed by Mets pitchers, as he gave up two gopher balls to J.D. Martinez, which gave the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.
It felt like if the Mets could get away from Kershaw and feast on the Dodgers’ bullpen, they still had a chance. They got the opportunity in the eighth. Daniel Vogelbach started things off with a pinch-hit single and with Tim Locastro on the IL, Buck Showalter sent out … Francisco Alvarez to pinch run. Yeah, he’s probably faster but it didn’t instill a lot of confidence. But it was as much as a case that Showalter was pinch-hitting for Tomas Nido with the next batter up, as he sent Brett Baty to the plate.
Baty ripped a ball that the second baseman made a leaping grab of and he was able to double off Alvarez. To be fair, there wasn’t a player alive who wouldn’t have been doubled off on the play. But it essentially ended the night for the Mets.
The Dodgers tacked on two runs in their half of the eighth inning and the Mets went down in order in the ninth.
It was the 200th career win for Kershaw.
Gut Reaction: it was vintage Kershaw who is one of best all time pitchers . It was a pleasure to see a live as a baseball fan. It is not pleasant to watch him as a Met fan.
In the 2021-22 off season, I wanted for Mets to offer the 1/$25m and he signed at 1/$17m and the Mets never pursue him anyway. Kershaw bleeds Dodger Blue and he probably wouldn’t signed anyway.
Let’s get to series win this afternoon.