The Mets (41-40) defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers (45-36) by a score of 2-1 tonight at Dodger Stadium.
In the first inning, Curtis Granderson walked to lead off the game, and would advance to second on a ground out from Juan Lagares to give the Mets a chance to score early against Clayton Kershaw.
After Daniel Murphy flew out, John Mayberry also walked to put two men on with Lucas Duda coming up. Unfortunately for the Mets, their offensive woes continued, as Duda struck out to end the inning.
After a clean first for Noah Syndergaard, Adrian Gonzalez welcomed him to Los Angeles by launching a solo shot to central, his fourteenth of the campaign, but Syndergaard settled down and got out of the inning without further damage.
In the fourth inning, John Mayberry doubled to start the frame, and moved up to third on a wild pitch from Clayton Kershaw. Lucas Duda failed to get him home by popping out, but Wilmer Flores collected his 34th RBI of the year, driving in Mayberry with a single.
The Dodgers threatened in the sixth inning, after Howie Kendrick reached on an error and stole second, and former Met Justin Turner walked, but Noah Syndergaard worked out of it, as he got Adrian Gonzalez to line out, and struck out Yasiel Puig to end the inning.
Syndergaard would be pinched hit for in the seventh, but pitched quite well, having the solo shot in the second be the only blemish against him. What was most impressive was that he held his own against one of the best pitchers in the game, Clayton Kershaw.
Syndergaard’s final line has him going six innings, allowing one run on two hits while walking two and striking out six. However, the Mets could again not coax out a win for their starting pitcher, and Syndergaard is slapped with a no decision. Syndergaard has lowered his WHIP to 0.88 the past four games, after owning a 1.36 WHIP in his first six.
Hansel Robles replaced Syndergaard, and pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, allowing only one hit and striking out three. He gets his second win of the season.
In the ninth inning, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen came on, and let up a quick bloop double to Lucas Duda. Wilmer Flores then reached on an infield single to put runners on the corners with nobody out.
Kevin Plawecki broke the tie on the next at-bat, hitting a sacrifice fly to center field to score Duda from third, only the Mets second run in the last 38 innings.
Jeurys Familia came on in the ninth, looking to convert his 22nd save of the year in 24 tries. He set the Dodgers down 1,2,3 and sealed the win for the Mets to start the road trip off on the right foot.
On deck:
Matt Harvey (7-5, 2.99 ERA) and the Mets will look for the series victory tomorrow against Zack Greinke (6-2, 1.58 ERA) and the Dodgers tomorrow. First pitch is at 10:10 PM ET.
