Heading into the first meeting this season between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets plenty of the talk centered around the Mets potentially seeking retribution for Chase Utley’s hard slide in Game 2 of the 2015 National League Division Series.
Utley’s provided a late spark for the Dodgers, helping them tie the series, but also broke Ruben Tejada’s leg. Utley was suspended two games but appealed and remained eligible throughout the NLDS.
However, he did not appear in Games 3 and 4 at Citi Field and was only used as a pinch-hitter in game Game 5. New York passed on any revenge during the four-game series at Dodger Stadium earlier this month.
In some regard, there was never an ideal opportunity for Utley to get beaned. The veteran infielder was booed on Friday night in his first game played at Citi Field since the incident. He connected for a game-tying three-run triple in the ninth inning of what finished as walk-off loss for the Dodgers.
In his second at-bat on Saturday night, Noah Syndergaard threw behind Utley and was immediately ejected. Mets manager Terry Collins came rushing out of the dugout and he too was ejected, via FOX Sports MLB Twitter account:
Retaliation? Noah Syndergaard threw behind Chase Utley & was ejected.
Terry Collins was livid & got tossed too.https://t.co/LqL4Qax0YS
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 29, 2016