Rich Hill allowed three home runs in the first inning on Saturday, which quickly put the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 3-0 deficit. They were held without a hit by New York Mets starter Seth Lugo until Yasmani Grandal’s two-out double in the fifth, then erupted the following inning.
Chris Taylor’s leadoff home run sparked an offensive onslaught over the game’s final four innings. Cody Bellinger’s two-run blast tied the game in the sixth, Yasiel Puig hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh, Justin Turner homered in the eighth, and Corey Seager in the ninth inning.
With their five home runs on the day, the Dodgers now have 23 in six games against the Mets this season. What’s more, Los Angeles became the first team since the 1912 New York Giants to go 43-7 over a 50-game stretch.
There was some reason for a tempered celebration, however, as Grandal was removed in the eighth inning due to back spams, according to Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times:
Yasmani Grandal left with back spasms.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) August 5, 2017
Grandal didn’t show any noticeable signs of discomfort when he struck out in the top of the eighth, though his final swing generated plenty of torque. He was replaced by Austin Barnes at the start of the bottom half of the inning.
Saturday’s start was Grandal’s fourth in the last five games. He is not in the lineup Sunday, though presumably was due for a night off in the series finale as the Mets are sending southpaw Steven Matz to the mound.
With versatile backup catchers Austin Barnes and Kyle Farmer on the roster, plus an off-day Monday, the Dodgers are in strong position to rest Grandal at least until Tuesday. On the season he’s batting .268/.315/.471 with 22 doubles, 14 home runs and 41 RBI.
