|
 First baseman Adrian Gonzalez, right fielder Yasiel Puig and
shortstop Hanley Ramirez all hit solo homers Wednesday night and
left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu struck out nine in six innings in his
return from the disabled list as the Dodgers edged the New York Mets
4-3 at Citi Field.
The win was the second in a row for the Dodgers (25-22), who have
strung together consecutive victories just three times since April
21. But the thoroughness with which the Dodgers took the first two
games from the Mets gives Wilson reason to believe another
season-defining run is on the horizon for Los Angeles.
One night after pounding out 15 hits and tying a season high for
runs in a 9-4 rout of the Mets, the Dodgers maximized their five
hits Wednesday and rode a strong performance by Ryu and three
subsequently solid innings from their bullpen, which has allowed one
run in seven frames against the Mets.
"We'll just have to see how this road trip goes," said Wilson, who
threw a scoreless eighth inning for the second straight night. "If
we can continue to play baseball that we know we're capable of
playing, this is a team that I don't think the division really wants
to get too hot."
The Dodgers, who began play Wednesday four games behind first-place
San Francisco, were 30-42 and nine games out of last place through
June 21 last year before winning 62 of their final 90 games to win
the division by 11 games.
"If we can put together a good series here, which we have, go on to
Philly (where the Dodgers begin a three-game series on Friday), then
we might just catch fire again," Wilson said.
The Dodgers can't begin to think about building a long winning
streak without completing the sweep of the Mets on Thursday, when
ace Zack Greinke takes the mound. He has allowed two runs or less in
21 straight starts -- the longest such streak since at least 1914.
"At this point, if you can get two, then you've got to get greedy,"
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said.
The red-hot Gonzalez, who has homered in three straight games, gave
the Dodgers a 1-0 lead with a leadoff homer in the second. Four
innings later, Puig and Ramirez launched back-to-back shots off Mets
right-hander Jacob deGrom.
The Dodgers added a vital insurance run in the eighth, when
pinch-hitter Chone Figgins doubled, went to third on second baseman
Dee Gordon's bunt and scored when Ramirez beat out the back end of a
double-play ball.
Ryu, who hadn't pitched since April 27 due to a stiff left shoulder,
allowed nine hits and two walks. He didn't allow a run until two
outs into the sixth, when Mets right fielder Curtis Granderson
singled and scored on the first career homer by first baseman Eric
Campbell.
[to top of second column] |
"We've seen enough now to know that this guy seems to be able to
just kind of step right in, throw the ball where he wants (and)
change speeds," Mattingly said. "So to be honest, we thought he
would pitch well."
Right-hander Kenley Jansen earned his 13th save despite allowing a
run in the ninth, when Mets center fielder Juan Lagares tripled with
one out and scored on second baseman Daniel Murphy's groundout.
Jansen then struck out third baseman David Wright to end the game.
Lagares, Wright and shortstop Wilmer Flores had three hits apiece
for the Mets (20-25), who stranded nine runners in losing for the
sixth time in seven games.
DeGrom allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while
striking out four over six innings in his second big-league start.
"I go back to what (injured right-hander) Matt Harvey said last
year: All you can do is your job," Mets manager Terry Collins said.
"DeGrom was real good tonight."
NOTES: Before the game, the Dodgers placed 3B Juan Uribe (right
hamstring) on the disabled list and recalled IF Erisbel Arruebarrena
from Double-A Chattanooga. Uribe aggravated a hamstring injury
legging out a double in the ninth inning on Tuesday night.
Arruebarrena will likely split time at third with INF Justin Turner,
who started Wednesday, and INF Chone Figgins. ... Dodgers
minor-leaguer Miguel Olivo was placed on the suspended list
Wednesday, a day after he bit off a part of teammate Alex Guerrero's
ear during a dugout fight. ... Mets RHP Dillon Gee (right lat
strain) was scheduled to throw on flat ground Wednesday for the
first time since going on the disabled list May 14. ... Injured Mets
C Travis d'Arnaud (concussion), who has not played since May 13,
passed the Mets' impact tests on Wednesday and said he felt much
better. He is scheduled to see a doctor on Thursday.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
