Dodgers split series with Mets after late comeback falls short in extras
By Rowan Kavner
Eddy Alvarez, who has a son named Jett, walked up to the “Top Gun” anthem in his first start as a Dodger and nearly swooped in to save the day.
The recent call-up and two-time Olympian, accustomed to performing in high-pressure situations, roped a game-tying RBI single up the middle with the Dodgers down to their last out Sunday afternoon against the Mets. Alvarez’s hit energized the 48,672 fans in attendance at Dodger Stadium and gave his team a chance to end the homestand as the National League leaders.
But the Dodgers couldn’t build on the momentum against a Mets team that departed Los Angeles with the NL’s top record. At the finish line of a grueling stretch of 31 games in 30 days, their comeback effort ran out of steam in a 5–4 extra-inning defeat.
“I wish it would’ve went a little differently,” Alvarez said. “It’s part of the game. As we all know, it’s a game of unpredictability. Just wanted to do my part, be the best player I could be out there and try and do what I can for this team.”
With a runner starting at second base in extra innings, Mets designated hitter J.D. Davis doubled to put the Mets ahead to start the 10th. Craig Kimbrel, who put the Mets down in order in the ninth, then got a strikeout and a double play.
The Dodgers would need only a hit from the top of their order to bring Gavin Lux in from second base and keep the game going. It never arrived.
“To our credit, to bounce back and put it in extra innings, we did good by that,” said manager Dave Roberts. “But we started with a guy at second base and couldn’t push him across. So, that’s just how it goes.”
Mookie Betts flew out and Freddie Freeman grounded out, moving Lux to third base. Trea Turner reached on catcher’s interference, setting up Will Smith with two outs and runners on the corners.
Smith, who homered to start the Dodger rally in the ninth inning, couldn’t deliver a second round of heroics in a series split, striking out on a foul tip. The Dodgers went 19–12 during their 31 games in 30 days but finished the homestand 2–5.
“I think this last week we definitely could’ve played better, for sure,” Turner said. “I think 19–12 is all right for a tough stretch, but I think we’re capable of a lot. We expect a lot out of ourselves.”
The Dodger offense went quiet Sunday after Turner started the scoring with a two-run home run in the first inning. Again, in a reverse from last season, the run support was minimal for Julio Urías. The Dodgers didn’t plate another run until Smith’s homer in the ninth inning.
Last year, Urías received six runs or more of support in half of his 32 games while leading the Majors with 20 wins. This year, he has gotten four runs of support or fewer in nine of his 11 starts — including eight straight.
“We just sort of shut down for seven innings and didn’t threaten,” Roberts said.
Roberts has made it a point to try to give Urías a longer leash into games in recent starts. On Sunday, despite throwing 45 pitches and tying a season-high with three walks through his first two innings, Urías pitched into the sixth.
“The bases on balls, that where the frustration comes from,” Urías said through a translator.
He lowered his ERA for the year to 2.78, allowing one run in 5 1/3 innings and throwing 90 pitches before departing with a one-run lead that would later disappear.
Urías faced two batters in a sixth inning that was finished off by reliever Evan Phillips. Caleb Ferguson and Brusdar Graterol took care of a scoreless seventh. Graterol returned for the eighth, when the Mets pounced. Graterol was charged with three runs against him for the second straight night. Two of those runs crossed while Graterol was in the game, with the third scoring after Alex Vesia entered and allowed a walk and a single.
“Could have had an opportunity to put those guys away,” Roberts said. “You let a team like that hang around, they’re going to put some runs on the board. And that’s what happened.”
The Dodgers mustered the energy for one last comeback.
After Smith’s homer to start the ninth, two quick outs followed. Chris Taylor came feet from tying the game on a deep drive that had the distance but sailed just left of the foul pole. But Taylor grinded, running an 0–2 count full before doubling on the eighth pitch of the at-bat.
That set up Alvarez’s single — a moment he said he would “cherish forever” — on a first-pitch fastball from Seth Lugo. The hit gave the Dodgers a chance to finish off the Mets, who instead jumped back into the NL’s driver seat.
“Like I said before, it’s kind of a video game lineup,” Alvarez said. “Just to crack this roster and to be a little piece of the algorithm is incredible. I’m going to count my blessings and do what I can to show up every day.”
A long-awaited day off awaits the club Monday before the Dodgers fly to Chicago.
Injury Updates
Kevin Pillar is getting shoulder surgery Tuesday that “for all intents and purposes will end his season,” according to Roberts.
Pillar was 1-for-12 in four games for his hometown team before a fractured left shoulder sent him to the injured list. The 33-year-old West Hills native signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers in March before getting called up on May 28.
While the Dodgers lost Pillar potentially for the year, they could get back Clayton Kershaw back by the end of next week.
Kershaw made a rehab start Sunday with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and struck out seven while allowing one run on a solo homer in four innings. Roberts said Sunday he was “hopeful” that Kershaw’s next outing would be would the Dodgers.
“I’d say the earliest would be Sunday in San Francisco, something like that,” Roberts said.
Dodger starter Andrew Heaney also began his rehab assignment this weekend, allowing one run while striking out five in three innings with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Heaney is expected to build up to four innings in his next start with Oklahoma City before potentially making his return.
Quick Hits:
· Justin Turner started at designated hitter Sunday. He was originally expected to play third base, but Roberts said Turner was dealing with some hamstring tightness. Alvarez logged the start at third.
