The Los Angeles Dodgers bested the Mets 6-2, behind seven strong innings from starting pitcher Dan Haren (11-10).
The Mets got off to a fast start with a lead off solo homerun from right fielder Curtis Granderson (16). However the Dodgers tied the game up in the third inning with a Dee Gordon RBI single in the third.
The tie was broken in the bottom of the fifth inning. A lead-off double by Justin Turner and a walked to Erisbel Arruebarrena put runners on the corners with one out. Then pitcher Dan Haren failed to execute a squeeze bunt that led to Turner being thrown out at home.
However, with two strikes on Haren, Niese then threw three consecutive balls and was forced to lay in a 90-mph fastball which Haren knocked into center field for an RBI single to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.
The game was in reach for the Mets until the bottom of the seventh, after two quick outs Niese gave up a triple to Dee Gordon and then walked Yasiel Puig to bring up Adrian Gonzalez who was hitting an awful .192 against lefties. Gonzalez grounded to shortstop Wilmer Flores who bounced the ball past first base that allowed Gordon to score.
Matt Kemp doubled to right field to score Puig and Gonzalez to run the score to 5-1. Niese (7-9) took the loss for the night throwing 6.2 while giving up 8 hits and 5 runs (2 earned). It wasn’t his best night, but he did put the Mets in a position to win.
Juan Lagares had two hits for the Mets and Lucas Duda hit a ninth-inning sacrifice fly.
Rafael Montero came into the game in relief and gave up another run before he was taken out. After the game he was optioned to Triple-A to make room on the roster for Jacob deGrom.
The team is still struggling in August and only four of tonight’s starters were hitting over .250. Lack of offense has been a theme for the 2014 Mets, but sloppy games like this one makes it nearly impossible for them to come back and win.
The Mets ended the night with three errors, two by Flores that led to three unearned runs, and one by Duda who dropped a routine fly ball in foul territory.
Up Next: Jacob DeGrom (6-5, 2.87 ERA) comes off the disabled list to face All-Star Zack Greinke (12-8, 2.75) in a 9:05 PM matchup on Saturday night.
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