METS 6 - DODGERS 4
The New York Mets remain red hot, and continue to build on one of the best stories in the early going of the 2024 season. New York survived a slog of a ball-game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, winning 6-4 to extend their winning streak to six games, and assure a fifth consecutive series victory.
Starling Marte who has been on fire since the Cincinnati Red series more than two weeks ago, had himself quiet a day on Saturday. Marte had two hits, and drove in four, including launching a mammoth three-run homer to dead center that proved to be the difference.
Two seasons ago Marte was the key to the Mets success in that team winning 101 games in 2022. When he went down with an injury at the end of that season, the Mets limped to the finish line, and got knocked out by San Diego.
Last year, Marte was just never himself as he battled injuries.
This year he's healthy, and is giving the Mets the man they've missed.
It also helps that Francisco Lindor appears to be turning the corner offensively. His two-run bomb on Friday night in LA, and his two RBI day on Saturday, are great signs.
Harrison Bader, who enjoyed a four hit day on Friday, had a rough day on Saturday, going 0-for-5 including bouncing into grounder with the bases loaded in the first inning.
Seriously though this game was a battle of attrition.
The Mets pitching staff struggled to find the strike zone, as 10 Dodgers wound up walking, including three-walks to Shoehei Ohtani. Yet, each time the Mets found a way to get out of trouble. In fact, the Dodgers left the bases loaded four times on Saturday.
It's hard to pinpoint one big moment, because there were so many.
With the Mets clinging to a 5-4 lead in the sixth, Drew Smith found a way to jam Max Muncy on a grounder to first with the bases loaded. Pete Alonso -- noticing that Smith was late to break toward first, dove for the bag and beat out Muncy to record the out and preserve a one-run lead.
Later in the eighth inning, Edwin Diaz had to come in to a pressure situation with Mookie Betts on first and the middle of the order coming up for LA. Diaz didn't have his best stuff, walking both Ohtani and Freedie Freeman to load 'em up.
Diaz then fired back and struck out Toscar Hernandez and Max Muncy to get out of trouble. Reed Garrett locked things down in the ninth.
The win was huge. The way it was done was even better. This team is something else.
NOTE: Francisco Alvarez will need to undergo surgery on his thumb. There is no timetable for his return, but manager Carlos Mendoza is hopeful to have him back this season.
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