Andrew Heaney turned in another strong start for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their series-opening victory against the New York Mets despite a first inning that nearly got out of hand.
Brandon Nimmo opened the inning with a single that was promptly followed by Starling Marte laying down a bunt. Although the ball looked like it was rolling foul, Heaney fielded it and tossed into the direction of Freddie Freeman, who was unable to make a play and the ball rolled down the line.
The error allowed Nimmo to score and let Marte reach third base, putting the Mets up 1-0.
After the game, Heaney said he felt like the ball was rolling back into play, so he was attempting to toss it into Marte’s back with the hope the umpire would rule it as interference and call him out, via SportsNet LA:
“Ball down the line right there, obviously, you have a decision to make of whether you want to let it go foul or pick it up. I kind of saw it wiggling and it looked like it was kind of going back towards in play. Sometimes, a situation like that, if you can field it and throw it into the runner’s back, they’re going to call it because he’s on the line right there and not running in the lane.
“So I was just trying to flip it in his back. I missed it and flipped it into right field. If I could do it over again, either don’t miss him or let it go foul. From my perspective it looked like it was going to stay on the line, so I was just trying to make a play. Early in the game like that, I should probably just err on the safer side.”
Heaney followed the error by hitting Francisco Lindor in a two-strike count to put runners at the corner. However, he was able to escape the jam by striking out Pete Alonso and Darin Ruf, with Lindor thrown out attempting to steal third base sandwiched between those two at-bats.
Heaney ended up allowing two more solo home runs in the outing, but he still managed to go five innings while giving up just two earned runs, striking out eight and walking no one. It wasn’t at dominant as the southpaw has shown he can be, but he was facing one of MLB’s top offenses.
Following Heaney, the Dodgers relied on four pitchers, including newly-added relievers Heath Hembree, who picked up the win, and Jake Reed, who earned his first career save.
Clayton Kershaw to start for Dodgers on Thursday
Clayton Kershaw is set to return to the Dodgers’ starting rotation on Thursday for the series finale against the Mets.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts previously indicated Kershaw would start either on Thursday or on Friday at Dodger Stadium against the San Diego Padres.
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