Game Recap: Mets Can’t Overcome Bad Defense in Finale, Lose 8-3

In last night’s finale in Los Angeles, the Mets were able to capitalize on back-to-back run scoring errors by Dee Gordon to take an early lead, but they couldn’t do much off Clayton Kershaw for most of the night, as three errors of their own led to six unearned runs, putting the game out of reach for New York, preventing them from getting the four-game sweep.

Mets Offensive Highlights:

New York was only able to muster five hits off Kershaw and the LA pitching staff last night, with the majority of their runs coming off errors. The Amazins got started right in the first inning, when Andres Torres got hit by a pitch to lead off the game. He got picked off first base, but Ruben Tejada walked and David Wright singled, allowing Scott Hairston to drive in Tejada with a single of his own for the first run of the game. In the third, Dillon Geeled off with a walk, followed by a Tejada single, and Wright drove in Gee with a fielder’s choice, and advanced to second on the Gordon throwing error. Hairston grounded to short, and also reached base on a Gordon error, plating Wright. However, the Mets couldn’t put anything else together the rest of the night, as Kershaw was brilliant over 7 innings.

Dodgers Offensive Highlights:

LA answered the Mets in the bottom of the first with a pair of doubles by A.J. Ellis and Juan Rivera to tie up the game. They were silent until the bottom of the fifth; Juan Uribe walked to lead things off, followed by Tony Gwynn Jr. reaching on a force attempt that ended up to be an error. Dee Gordon hit a ball that Justin Turner couldn’t handle, plating LA’s second run. Ellis drove in Gwynn with a sacrifice fly, tying things up. Gee immediately ran into trouble in the sixth by walking Rivera and giving up a double to Adam Kennedy. James Loney provided LA with the lead off an RBI ground out. Ramon Ramirez and Justin Hampson couldn’t keep the Dodgers quiet in the seventh, as Gordon singled, followed by walk to Ellis and Bobby Abreu to load the bases. With Rivera up, two runs scored due to an error by Mike Nickeas at home plate. Kennedy hit a sacrifice fly and Loney hit an RBI double to cap off the four-run inning.

Pitching Highlights:

Dillon Gee didn’t pitch badly, but the poor defense behind him led him to his seventh loss of the year. Gee ended up throwing 6 innings, gave up 5 hits, 2 walks, and 4 runs (2 earned), while striking out 4 hitters. Ramirez, Hampson, and Miguel Batista all combined to pitch in the seventh, without great results, and Jeremy Hefner threw a perfect eighth inning.

Clayton Kershaw helped the Dodgers end their seven-game hitting streak with his 7 solid innings last night, giving up 5 hits, 3 walks, and 1 run on 9 strikeouts. Ronald Belisario and Kenley Jansen shut down the Mets in the final two innings by not allowing a hit and striking out 3 hitters.

Worth Noting:

When the Dodgers took the lead in the sixth inning, it was their first lead in about a week, a streak of futility that spanned 66 innings. Tejada was the only Met with two hits last night, as he’s now racked up 10 base knocks in his last 5 games. The three errors committed last night by New York now gives them 63 on the season, the third highest total in the MLB.

The loss last night ended the four-game winning streak that the Mets started in the finale of the Cubs series. Washington won last night, pushing their lead over New York in the NL East back to 3.5 games. Terry Collins’ group is still in sole possession of second place with a 43-37 record.

Probable Pitchers Tuesday:

New York has today off as they will be traveling back to Flushing to take on the Phillies for a three-game set. Philadelphia went 9-19 in June and are currently on a five-game losing streak. Charlie Manuel will look to Vance Worley (4-4, 2.92) to break their skid, as he goes up against Jonathon Niese (6-3, 3.55 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10pm.