Heading into their four-game series with the New York Mets, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ futile offense figured to have quite the challenge on their. On top of needing to overcome their own struggles, the Dodgers drew Steven Matz, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard in the first three games.
Predictably, the three games have featured strong pitching performances, with the Dodgers staff holding up their end of the bargain. Although he suffered the loss and allowed one run in each of the first three innings on Monday, Scott Kazmir settled in to keep the Dodgers in the game.
Alex Wood threw 6.1 quality innings on Tuesday, a Dodger win. However, Kenta Maeda’s streak of pitching at least six innings in each start this season came to an end on Wednesday, in large part due to Syndergaard.
Not only did the Mets’ fireballer spin eight innings, allowing two runs on six hits and collecting six strikeouts, he also chipped in with two home runs.
Syndergaard’s second homer off Maeda was a three-run shot that came in an at-bat where he was forced to swing away after failing to get a sacrifice bunt down. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was rendered in disbelief of Syndergaard’s fifth-inning blast, according to Bill Plunkett of the OC Register:
“For the pitcher to hit a breaking ball, backdoor, down and away and hit it out of the ballpark – you probably won’t see that again all year,” Roberts said. “I was in disbelief.”
Syndergaard’s first home run gave the Mets a 1-0 lead in the third inning. It was quickly washed away as Corey Seager hit a game-tying solo home run in the bottom of the third. Then in the fourth inning, Yasmani Grandal’s solo homer put the Dodgers ahead, 2-1.
Syndergaard was responsible for all four of the Mets’ runs on the night. To no surprise, his four RBIs set a career high. Syndergaard is the first Major League pitcher to hit two home runs in a game since Arizona’s Micah Owings in August 2007.
He’s the first pitcher with two home runs against the Dodgers since July 1958, when Milwaukee’s Lew Burdette accomplished the rare feat. Syndergaard entered Wednesday’s game with one career home run.
