METS GAIN SERIES SPLIT WITH DODGERS, NOW HEAD TO PETCO
The New York Mets arrived at Dodger Stadium anticipating a four-game showdown that might tell them some things about their ability to contend with baseball’s best teams.
After clutch hits from Pete Alonso and J.D. Davis, a blown late lead and a gritty finish by rookie Adonis Medina in a thrilling series finale, the Mets are leaving L.A. confident they’ve got the talent and tenacity to play with anybody.
Davis led off the 10th inning with an RBI double after the Mets wasted a tworun lead in the ninth, and
New York hung on to salvage a four-game split with a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. Now, the Mets will play a threegame series against the Padres at Petco Park.
“Hopefully, the test is more so at the end of the year,” Davis said. “I think it was maybe more so a quiz.”
The results are already in, however: The Mets are good, and they’ll only get better when Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom return from injury. With one-third of the regular season finished, New York (37-19) nudged back ahead of Los Angeles (35-19) for the NL’s best record with its eighth win in 10 games.
Alonso doubled home the tying run in the eighth and scored the go-ahead run on Eduardo Escobar’s sacrifice fly.
Alonso then started the 10th on second base as the automatic runner and scored another go-ahead run on Davis’ hit off Craig Kimbrel (0-2).
Medina came through in the biggest moment of his career to date, retiring Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman to open the Dodgers’ half of the 10th.
Trea Turner reached on catcher interference and the Dodgers got two runners in scoring position, but Medina coolly struck out Will Smith to earn his first career save in his sixth appearance for the Mets, who used closer Edwin Diaz against LA’s 1-2-3 hitters in the eighth.
“For this team to have that trust in me at that moment, it’s a big deal,” Medina said through a translator.
Smith homered and Eddy Alvarez tied it with a two-out RBI single in the ninth for the Dodgers, who have lost five of seven.
With the final loss of a dismal 2-5 homestand, they fell to 31-2 this season when leading after seven innings.
Notable
Dodgers outfielder Kevin Pillar will have surgery Tuesday on his injured shoulder, and his season is likely over, manager Dave Roberts said. Also, LHP
Clayton Kershaw (back pain) threw four innings of three-hit ball in a minor league rehab start. He could return to L.A.’s rotation this weekend for his first start since May 7.
• Nationals RHP
Stephen Strasburg (thoracic outlet syndrome) threw a bullpen session Sunday and will travel with the team to Miami, where a decision could be made on when he returns, manager
Martinez said. Strasburg has been out since early April.
• The Angels put OF Taylor Ward (right hamstring tightness) on the 10-day injured list and recalled Jo Adell from Triple-A.
• The Phillies placed INF Nick Maton (right shoulder sprain) on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Saturday, and activated DiDi Gregorius (sprained left knee), who had been sidelined since May 5.
• Giants RHP Alex Cobb (back tightness) threw from 75 feet Saturday and could make his next scheduled start. Cobb was scratched Friday against Miami.