Cody Bellinger slugged a pair of homers to become the fastest player to 21 career home runs (51 games). Justin Turner and Chris Taylor each hit a home run, and the Los Angeles Dodgers opened their nine-game homestand with a 10-6 victory over the New York Mets.
Zack Wheeler immediately was in hot water as he failed to retire any of the first five batters faced. Turner’s RBI single gave the Dodgers an early lead, and Bellinger’s three-run home run extended it.
Turner and Bellinger produced again in the second inning, combining to hit back-to-back home runs off Wheeler. Bellinger’s fifth multi-home run game matched Mike Piazza’s Dodgers rookie record.
Wheeler went just two innings, with seven runs allowed on eight hits. The Mets bullpen managed to slow the Dodgers some, which allowed their offense to chip away at a 7-0 deficit against Clayton Kershaw.
He surrendered one home run in each the third, fourth and fifth innings. Then another in the seventh after striking out the side in the sixth. It marked the first time in Kershaw’s career he allowed four home runs in a start. He was removed after throwing 112 pitches in 6.1 innings.
What’s more, it ran his season total to 17 home runs, which set a new career high. It previously was 16 home runs allowed in 33 starts during the 2012 season. Of the Mets’ home runs, Gavin Cecchini hit the first of his career, and Jose Reyes had his first multi-home run game since last July.
A string of three scoreless innings from Mets relievers was snapped when Turner hit an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to extend the Dodgers’ lead to 8-4. Chris Taylor homered in the seventh and Chase Utley added an RBI single to provide a cushion at 10-6 after Reyes hit his second home run.
The Mets loaded the bases on Chris Hatcher in the eighth but Reyes struck out to end the inning. Hatcher remained in the game and worked around a leadoff single to wrap up the victory.
Turner matched a career high in hits by finishing the night 4-for-4, and he also drew a walk. Turner, Bellinger and Taylor went a combined 9-for-14 with four home runs, nine RBI and five runs scored.
