Mets at Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers were on the verge of suffering back-to-back losses for the first time in more than a month before taking advantage of the New York Mets' beleaguered bullpen Wednesday. Los Angeles attempts to ride that momentum to a series win when it hosts New York on Thursday for the finale of their four-game set.
After dropping a 7-3 decision Tuesday, the Dodgers began their half of the seventh inning with a five-run deficit but chipped away with single runs in back-to-back frames before scoring four in the ninth en route to a 9-8 triumph. Joc Pederson and Max Muncy opened the final frame with home runs, and Cody Bellinger delivered a game-tying RBI double before Alex Verdugo completed the comeback with a walk-off sacrifice fly for Los Angeles, which last lost consecutive games on April 23 and 24 to the Cubs in Chicago. Former Met Justin Turner is 10-for-20 in his last four contests after recording three hits and two RBIs on Wednesday while Corey Seager is riding a six-game hitting streak following a 3-for-4 performance that included a solo homer. Rookie Pete Alonso went 3-for-4 with two blasts and four RBIs in the setback and has gone 6-for-13 over the first three games of the series for the Mets, who had won seven of nine following a five-game slide.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), SportsNet LA, KTLA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jason Vargas (1-2, 5.22 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (7-1, 1.65)
Vargas returned from a stint on the injured list Saturday and settled for a no-decision against Detroit after allowing one run on five hits and three walks in five innings. It marked the fourth time in his last five outings the 36-year-old Californian gave up one run, although he worked more than five frames (5 1/3) in just one of those outings. Vargas has made five career starts against Los Angeles, going 2-3 with one complete game and a 5.10 ERA.
Ryu is an early favorite for the National League Cy Young Award as he leads the majors in ERA and has issued only four walks over 65 1/3 innings while winning seven of his first 10 starts. The 32-year-old South Korean allowed only two runs at Pittsburgh on Saturday despite yielding 10 hits in six frames to win his fourth straight turn and fifth consecutive decision. Ryu is 3-1 with a 1.66 ERA in six career starts against the Mets.
WALK-OFFS
1. Bellinger is in the midst of a six-game hitting streak during which he has recorded three homers and eight RBIs.
2. New York 2B Adeiny Hechavarria has gone 5-for-12 with a homer and four RBIs over the first three games of the series.
3. Los Angeles rookie 1B Matt Beaty is 6-for-14 with six RBIs in his last four contests.