The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t come up with big home run swings or many hits overall, but productive outs helped propel them to a 4-1 victory over the New York Mets to extend their winning streak to seven games.
Taijuan Walker had stretches were he kept the Dodgers off balance in similar fashion to his outing against them earlier in the week at Citi Field. Like in that game, Will Smith broke up Walker’s no-hitter, albeit much earlier in the contest with a double in the second inning.
That put two runners in scoring position for AJ Pollock, who provided L.A. with a lead on his RBI groundout. Chris Taylor followed with his own ball hit to the right side of the infield to trade an out for another run.
After the Mets cut into their deficit in the fourth inning, the Dodgers responded in the fifth. With two outs and Taylor on third base, pinch-hitter Billy McKinney delivered one of the team’s two-extra base hits on an RBI double.
Not to hype a ground out that would've been ball four, but not being able to do even that is what has costed them so many one-run games. pic.twitter.com/BGs3PuWI2q
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 20, 2021
CT3 does the same. pic.twitter.com/XVOg90wslL
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 20, 2021
Victor González with an impressive play to end the inning! 😳 pic.twitter.com/bevJvosQX6
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 20, 2021
Billy McKinney doubles in a run to double the lead. pic.twitter.com/9HnXgjQHsb
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 20, 2021
Trea Turner continues the two-out rally with a single to score another. pic.twitter.com/DaBkXlhLAh
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 20, 2021
Trea Turner extended the Dodgers’ lead by driving in McKinney on his base hit that beat the shift. Turner finished the night with a team-high two hits.
As the Dodgers took an early lead and added to it, the bullpen did their job in keeping the Mets in check. It started with Corey Knebel working a scoreless first inning to fulfill his role as opener.
Evan Phillips made his Dodgers debut and got through two scoreless frames before giving up an RBI double in the fourth. Victor Gonzalez inherited a runner in scoring position but benefitted from J.D. Davis running into a double play because he lost track of the number of outs.
Gonzalez got through the fifth inning as well but walked gingerly off the field after getting to a tapper past the mound but losing his balance before tossing over to first base. Gonzalez was in his first game back from the 10-day injured list because of right knee inflammation.
Phil Bickford took over in the seventh inning, Alex Vesia pitched the eighth, and Blake Treinen struck out the side in the ninth. Each reliever threw a scoreless inning, and the save was Treinen’s fourth of the season.
Dodgers City Connect jersey to be debuted
Officially unveiled Thursday morning, the Dodgers will now wear their City Connect uniform in each of the next two games against the Mets.
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