The Los Angeles Dodgers again successfully navigated a bullpen game and they came up with enough productive swings to defeat the New York Mets, 4-1, in the series opener. The Dodgers have now won seven in a row and picked up a half-game on the idle San Francisco Giants.
Taijuan Walker had stretches were he kept the Dodgers off balance in similar fashion to his start against them at Citi Field. Just like in that outing, Will Smith broke up Walker’s no-hitter, albeit much earlier in the game with a double in the second inning.
That put two in scoring position for AJ Pollock, who provided L.A. an early lead on his RBI groundout. Chris Taylor followed suit with his own ball hit to the right side of the infield.
Then with two outs and Taylor on third base, Billy McKinney provided a pinch-hit RBI double in the fifth inning. Trea Turner kept the rally alive by driving in McKinney on his base hit that beat the shift.
As the Dodgers took an early lead and added to it, the bullpen did their job in keeping the Mets in check. Corey Knebel stranded a two-out single in the first inning to fulfill his role as an opener.
Evan Phillips made his Dodgers debut and got through two scoreless innings before giving up an RBI double in the fourth. Victor Gonzalez inherited the runner in scoring position and benefited from J.D. Davis running into a double play because he lost track of the number of outs.
Gonzalez got through the fifth inning as well but walked gingerly off the field after getting to a tapper past the mound but losing his balance before tossing over to first base. Gonzalez returned Thursday night after a stint on the 10-day injured list because of right knee inflammation.
The baton then was passed to Phil Bickford in the seventh, Alex Vesia in the eighth, and Blake Treinen handled the ninth. Each threw a scoreless inning of relief, and the save was Treinen’s fourth of the season.
Dodgers City Connect jersey
Officially unveiled Thursday morning, the Dodgers will now wear their City Connect uniform in each of the next two games against the Mets.
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