Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Good morning, Mets fans!
The Mets made it close but in the end the Los Angeles Dodgers handed the Mets their eighth loss in their last nine games on Saturday. Mets starter Rich Hill threw five innings and gave up three home runs including career home run No. 677 for Dodgers first baseman Albert Pujols. The three homers put the Mets in a 3-0 hole by the top of the fifth when Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo hit a solo home run to cut LA’s lead to 3-1.
The Dodgers scored one run in the sixth off of reliever Miguel Castro to give the Dodgers a 4-1 lead. The score stood until the top of the sevent when Pete Alonso hit his 28th home run of the season off of Blake Treinen with a man on to make the score 4-3.
That would remain the score into the ninth when Kenley Jansen came in and saved it for the Dodgers in the ninth inning to hold on for the victory. The Dodgers moved their record to 78-64 and brought them to within 1.5 games of the lead in the National League West behind the San Francisco Giants. The loss dropped the Mets record to 60-63. They are now seven games off the lead in the NL East.
The Mets will look to salvage the final game of the four-game set against the Dodgers on Sunday. Marcus Stroman (8-12 2.84) throws the ball for the Mets, going against veteran left-hander David Price (4-1 3.62) for the Dodgers.
Latest Mets News
Javier Baez said “he’s ready” to join the Mets for their series finale on Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to Tim Healey of Newsday. “It’s up to them (Mets medical personnel and other decision-makers). I want to go out there,” Baez said. He and fellow infielder Francisco Lindor are eligible to come off of the ten-day IL on Sunday. No word yet on whether or not they will be activated on Sunday.
Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard threw a live BP session at Dodgers Stadium on Saturday. It’s the second time Syndergaard has thrown to live hitters since his most recent shutdown in May. The right-hander threw 20 pitches, topping out at 94-95 mph. No word on what the next step will be for Syndergaard who is trying to come back from Tommy John surgery performed in April 2020.
A 46-year-old man was found dead at Citi Field on Saturday, this according to multiple reports. According to the New York Police Department the man fell from the second-floor staircase. It is unclear whether the death was accidental. The Mets released a statement saying they are aware of the situation and sent their condolences to the friends and family of the victim. The rock band Dead & Company played a concert at Citi Field on Friday, though it is not certain the fan attended the concert.
Latest MLB News
Minnesota Twins right-handed pitcher Kenta Maeda will undergo an MRI on his right forearm after the veteran pitcher left his start on Saturday against the Yankees after just 4.1 innings pitched. Maeda let up just one run in his first four innings but struggled in the fifth after appearing uncomfortable on the mound throughout the inning. Maeda was showing some discomfort with his right arm. He would struggle in the inning and was pulled from the game later in the fifth.
The Chicago Cubs placed right-handed pitcher Dan Winkler on release waivers on Saturday. The veteran right hander had pitched in 47 games for the Cubbies in 2021. He had an ERA of 5.22 with a WHIP of 1.56. Chicago also announced that former Mets outfielder Johneshwy Fargas has cleared waivers and was sent to Triple-A Iowa. Fargas was designated for assignment on August 18.
Latest NL East News
The Atlanta Braves topped the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday by a score of 5-4. Joc Pederson and Austin Riley homered off Matt Harvey to give the Braves a 4-3 lead. Will Smith got his 27th save of the season. The win puts the Braves record at 67-56 and gives them a four-game lead over the Phillies and a seven-game lead over the Mets.
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Jeff McNeil has been one of the most consistent Mets over the last few seasons. That makes his struggles in the 2021 season so head-scratching. Mojo Hill takes a deep dive into the numbers on what has been happening with McNeil this season.
The 2015 season had some special moments. Brian Wright looks at one game in-particular in which Yoenis Cespedes had a special day in Colorado.
On This Date in Mets History
The Mets won both games of a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals on this date in 1965. In game one, Jim Hickman hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning to give the Mets a 7-5 lead. Dave Eilers got the save after pitching a scoreless ninth inning to clinch the victory. In game two, rookie Tug McGraw threw a complete game, giving up seven hits and two runs in a 4-2 win. It was the 20-year-old’s first complete game of his career.
The Mets began a six-game winning streak when they beat the Los Angeles Dodgers on this date in 1969. The winning streak helped the Mets chase down the Chicago Cubs for the National League Eastern Division. In the game, Ron Swoboda hit a two-run homer off of Bill Singer to give the Amazins’ an early 2-0 lead in the fourth. The team scored two more in the fifth and that was enough for pitchers Jerry Koosman and Tug McGraw to hold down the lead as the Mets won 5-3 . By the end of win streak, the Mets had cut the Cubs lead in the East to just two games.
John Milner hit a walk-off single to give the Mets a 4-3 victory against the Dodgers on this date in 1973. The Mets were down 3-2 entering the ninth, after a walk-off victory the day before. Jim Brewer started the ninth for the Dodgers giving up a single to Cleon Jones. Tug McGraw sacrificed Jones over to second and a Wayne Garrett fly out would move Jones to third. With two outs, Felix Millan ripped a single to score Jones and tie the game. then Rusty Staub singled to put runners at first and second base. Dodgers manager Walter Alston brought in Paul Richert who surrendered Milner’s hit, scoring Millan and giving the Mets the win.
Terry Leach threw a complete game three hitter to beat the San Francisco Giants 7-0 on this date in 1985. The Mets beat up Giants starter Vida Blue for six earned runs in 6.1 innings pitched. Darryl Strawberry hit his 19th home run of the season and Wally Backman had three hits in the victory. The win kept the Mets on-top of the NL East by 0.5 game.
Todd Hundley hit a game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth off future Hall of Fame closer Trevor Hoffman to help beat the Padres 9-8 on this date in 1997. The game was tied at five entering the ninth but Mets reliever Mel Rojas gave up three runs in the top of the inning to give the Friers an 8-5 lead. The Mets came storming back as John Olerud hit an RBI double and then Hundley’s homer tied it at eigh. The Mets would win the game in the 11th on a Carlos Baegra walk-off walk.
Birthdays: Darrin Jackson (58), Ike Hampton (70), Ray Burris (71)
