Noah Syndergaard outlasted Max Scherzer, who was ejected in the bottom of the fourth inning, but the Los Angeles Dodgers fell back below .500 with a 5-3 loss to the New York Mets. The Dodgers finished 2-4 on their homestand.
Prior to being ejected, Scherzer allowed one hit and issued two walks over three scoreless innings. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, and took exception to foreign substances checks in the third and fourth.
First-base umpire Phil Cuzzi stopped Scherzer for a sticky check prior to allowing him to warm up in the bottom of the third inning, and he was instructed to get a new glove. Scherzer appeared displeased, but obliged.
Home-plate umpire Dan Bellino and Cuzzi inspected Scherzer again before the bottom of the fourth began, and at that point he became more irate. Scherzer appeared to be telling the umpires the foreign substance in question was merely rosin, but Cuzzi ejected him anyhow.
The Dodgers immediately benefitted from the Mets going to their bullpen, as Jason Heyward’s one-out double led to a sacrifice fly from David Peralta.
However, Noah Syndergaard quickly coughed that up as Brandon Nimmo hit a two-run home run in the fifth. Those were the only runs Syndergaard allowed to his former team over six innings.
The 30-year-old has completed six innings in three of his four starts with the Dodgers this season.
Syndergaard was followed by some shaky performances out of the Dodgers bullpen, which included Yency Almonte allowing a run in the eighth inning. Shelby Miller then gave up a two-run double to Mark Canha in the ninth, which proved to be the difference as David Peralta hit a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning.
That also represented the first run Miller allowed after seven scoreless appearances to begin the season.
Dodgers without Mookie Betts
With Will Smith still not eligible to return from the concussion injured list, the Dodgers were without another key contributor in their loss to the Mets as Mookie Betts remained on paternity leave for a second day. Betts may take a third day to be with his family on Thursday, the maximum permitted for the paternity list, before rejoining the Dodgers.
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