The Los Angeles Dodgers rough stretch continued as they dropped their series opener with the New York Mets by a score of 9-4 due to more bullpen struggles following a rally from an early deficit.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto started his nice out on a positive note as he struck out two in a perfect inning. The right-hander has had some struggles in the first inning to begin his career, which is something the Dodgers have looked into addressing.
“I know he knows the value of the first inning and putting up a zero,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “That actually goes with a lot of our starters. I don’t know the answer yet.
“I’ve seen the velo in the first inning, so I don’t think it’s feeling himself into the game. But even talking to (Clayton) Kershaw, I’ve talked to him over the years, that first inning for a starting pitcher, you get the butterflies and you want to make sure your stuff is there.
“You don’t know what your stuff is that particular night and that’s why that first inning is pivotal. We don’t have it nailed yet with Yoshinobu, or let alone any of our pitchers, but it’s going to be important to put up a zero tonight.”
However, the second and third innings presented Yamamoto with some troubles as D.J. Stewart hit a solo home run to put the Mets up 1-0. Francisco Alvarez then reached second base on a throwing error from Will Smith, and Harrison Bader followed with a single to put the Mets up 2-0.
In the third inning, Brandon Nimmo walked and Starling Marte doubled to put two runners in scoring position. Pete Alonso drove in Nimmo with a single, ans Stewart hit a sac fly to make it 4-0.
Yamamoto settled into the game more after that inning and ended up pitching into the sixth for the first time in his career with three consecutive scoreless innings.
He finished his night pitching six innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits with nine strikeouts to one walk, putting his season ERA at 4.50.
The Dodgers scored their first run in the fourth inning when Shohehi Ohtani walked and stole second base. Teoscar Hernandez singled him home on a ground ball to right field, cutting the deficit to three runs.
Then in the fifth inning, Andy Pages doubled to start the Dodgers off. It was the first extra-base hit of his young career. Following a walk from Chris Taylor, Shoehi Ohtani singled home Pages to cut the Mets’ lead to two runs.
Ohtani has started off slow with runners in scoring position, and it’s something the Dodgers looked to address.
The Dodgers rallied in the sixth inning, thanks in part to some poor defense from the Mets. Smith reached on an error, and Kiké Hernández reached on a fielder’s choice with a throwing error from Joey Wendle.
Andy Pages was hit by a pitch to load the bases. With two outs, Roberts let Chris Taylor bat in the midst of an 0-for-31 streak at the plate, and he was rewarded. Taylor singled to left field, driving in two runs to tie the game.
However, the tie game didn’t last long. With Daniel Hudson on the mound, Mookie Betts committed an error, and Francisco Lindor put the Mets back up with a two-run blast.
The Mets then added two more runs against Joe Kelly in the eighth inning after loading the bases with two singles and a walk. Marte singled to drive in the runs. They also added another run in the ninth on a single from D.J. Stewart.
Dodgers in midst of losing stretch
The Dodgers have now lost six of their last eight games, and eight of their last 13, which dates back to their April 5 loss against the Chicago Cubs. They sit 12-10 overall but remain atop the National League West by one game ahead of the San Diego Padres.
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