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Mets Game Recap: Amazins end first half on high note; take series opener 2-1 in Los Angeles

By Michael Lecolant |

The Mets arrived in Los Angeles Friday evening for a 3-game weekend series against the Dodgers.  They will then travel to San Francisco and challenge the Giants before returning home to Citi Field.

Noah Syndergaard climbed the hill in Friday’s series opener, and was opposed by L.A.’s Clayton Kershaw.

Jul 3, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher

Noah Syndergaard

(34) in the second inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

As anticipated, the two staged a pitcher’s duel, allowing just an earned run each through 6 innings of play.  However, they respectively exited to no-decisions.

Lucas Duda then sparked a rally in the top of the 9th giving the Mets a slim 2-1 lead.

Jeurys Familia entered the game in the bottom of the frame, and retired the heart of the Dodgers line-up securing the Mets 41st victory of the season.

Mets Starting Lineup:

1) Curtis Granderson-RF; 2) Juan Lagares-CF; 3) Daniel Murphy-3B; 4) John Mayberry Jr.-LF; 5) Lucas Duda-1B; 6) Wilmer Flores-2B; 7) Kevin Plawecki-C; 8) Ruben Tejada-SS; 9) Noah Syndergaard-SP.

Game Recap:

Noah Syndergaard fanned the first two batters he faced, en route to retiring the Dodgers in order in the 1st.

In the top of the 2nd, Ruben Tejada got the Mets first base hit off Clayton Kershaw.

Leading off the bottom of the frame, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez took Syndergaard deep over the center field wall.

  • After 3 innings pitched, Noah allowed one earned run on one hit, walked one and fanned 3 batters.  He threw 38 pitches with 24 (63%) going for strikes.

John Mayberry led-off the top of the 4th with a double down the left field line.  With Lucas Duda at the plate, Kershaw unleashed a wild pitch, allowing Mayberry to advance 90-feet.  Duda popped-up to second base for the first out.  Wilmer Flores then bounced a grounder through the first base hole, delivering Mayberry with the tying run.  Ruben Tejada followed with his second hit of the game.  With 2-outs and runners on 1st and 2nd, Syndergaard struck out swinging to end the Mets threat.

Justin Turner led-off the bottom of the 4th with just the second hit off Syndergaard, a double, but was left stranded.

Syndergaard struck out 2 batters in the 5th to make it 5 for the game.

Wilmer Flores stroked his second hit of the game with 2-outs in the 6th.  Kershaw, however, recorded all 3-outs on strikeouts, giving him 6 for the game.

With 1-out in the bottom of the 6th, Syndergaard was charged with a fielding error on second baseman Howie Kendrick‘s tapper hit left of the mound.  With Justin Turner up, Kendrick stole second.  Turner then worked a base on balls, which prompted a visit to the mound by Dan Warthen.  Adrian Gonzalez lined sharply to center, gloved by Juan Lagares.  With 2-outs, right fielder Yasiel Puig swung through a curveball for strike three.

  • Through 6 innings pitched, Noah Syndergaard threw 107 pitches, with 67 (63%) going for strikes.  He surrendered a lone home run, allowed just 2 hits, walked 2, and fanned 6 batters before departing with the game tied at one.  He lowered his ERA from 3.59 to a 3.38 mark.

Clayton Kershaw retired the Mets in order in the top of the 7th.

Hansel Robles entered the game in the bottom of the 7th in relief of Noah Syndergaard, and was greeted by Andre Ethier with a sharp single up the middle.  Robles then fanned catcher Yasmani Grandal and  Jimmy Rollins flied to left.  Pinch hitter Alex Guerrero popped out foul to Lucas Duda.

Fast forward – the Dodgers brought in closer Kenley Jansen to pitch the 9th.  Lucas Duda led-off with a bloop double that dropped just inside left field line.  Next, Wilmer Flores reached safely when his come backer bounced off the glove of Jansen, Duda advanced to third.  Kevin Plawecki then flied to deep center, Duda tagged and scored, and Flores advanced to second on the play.  Ruben Tejada fanned for the second out.  Batting for Robles, pinch hitter Darrell Ceciliani also fanned standing Flores at second.

  • Hansel Robles pitched 2 innings, allowed one hit, walked none and fanned 3 batters.  He threw 30 pitches with 22 going for strikes.

Jeurys Familia entered the game in the bottom of the 9th in relief of Robles.  Leading-off, Adrian Gonzalez looked at an inside fastball for strike three.  Yasiel Puig flied to right/center for the second out.  Andre Ethier then flied to right ending the game.

Scoring Summary:

  • Top 4th inning – John Mayberry Jr. lead-off double, advanced to third on a wild pitch.  With 1-out, Wilmer Flores singled to score Mayberry.
  • Top 9th inning – Lucas Duda doubled.  Wilmer Flores reached on an infield single, Duda advanced.  Kevin Plawecki‘s sac-fly to center scored Duda, Flores advanced to second.

Final Score:

  • Mets 2; DODGERS 1

Highlights:

  • Tonight’s game marked the midway point of the New York Mets season.  They snapped a 3-game losing streak, and improved their record to a 41-40 mark.
  • Wilmer Flores, 3 for 4, RBI.
  • This was by far Noah Syndergaard’s highlight start of the season.  He effectively matched Clayton Kershaw pitch for pitch through six innings of work.
  • Jeurys Familia appeared in his 36th game, earned his 22nd save, and lowered his ERA from 1.19 to a 1.16 mark.  He struck out (Adrian Gonzalez) his 39th batter of the season in 38.2 innings pitched.

Next: Independence Day

7/4 – Saturday, 7:15pm (ET)

Mets @ DODGERS

Matt Harvey vs. Zack Greinke

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