Mark Ellis’s Pair of Homeruns and Big Offense Gives Dodgers a Big Apple Win

Dodgers 7 12 1

Mets 2 4 0

WP- Belisario (1-2)

LP- Lyon (1-1)

HR- (2) M. Ellis (1, 2)

What’s better than New York pizza and cheesecake? A Dodger win in the Big Apple of course! The Dodgers brought their bats to New York tonight, and for once the offense shined bright. With what Clayton Kershaw was lacking in control, the Dodgers made up for with 12 base hits including two huge homeruns from Mark Ellis, three singles from Justin Sellers, and big doubles from Andre Ethier , A.J. Ellis., and Matt Kemp. Even though we are emerging from an ugly six-game losing streak, there is glimmers of light amongst the darkened bats. Matt Kemp looks more comfortable at the plate, and the double to center field he hit in the ninth inning was classic Bison hitting. Mark Ellis had an amazing game, and he hit his 100th homerun in his career off Robert Carson in the fifth inning. He hit another one for good measure, this one a three-run shot off Brandon Lyon in the seventh inning. Mark had 4 hits, 4 RBI, and 2 runs on the cold New York night.

Mark Ellis was the M.V.P. of the games wtih 4 hits and 4 RBIs. Photo: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

A Mark Ellis single is not cashed in after Matt Kemp grounds into an inning ending double play in the top of the first inning.

Clayton Kershaw strikes out Ruben Tejada to open the home half the first, and the next two batters are also retired.

Jon Niese walks Adrian Gonzalez and Jerry Hairston Jr. consecutively in the second inning. Andre Ethier strikes out, but A.J. Ellis draws the third walk of the inning to load the bases up for the Dodgers. Justin Sellers singles softly to right field, and Gonzalez scores the first run of the game as the Dodgers take a 1-0 lead. Clayton Kershaw grounds into an inning ending double play to end the frame.

 I can’t be mad at Kersh though since he comes back and strikes out two in the bottom of the second as Marlon Byrd and Lucas Duda both go down swinging.

In the third, Mark Ellis collects another single when he hits a groundball off Jon Weise’s leg. The ball sort of bounced around and hit him a couple of places. Weise has to come out of the game. Robert Carson, a lefty, will replace the injured Niese. Matt Kemp promptly singles to left field. That’s four base hits in the last five at-bats for Kemp. Gonzalez flies out, and Mark Ellis barely gets back to second without being thrown out on the play. Hairston lines out to Tejada who climbs up the ladder to snag the potential base hit.

With two outs in the bottom of the third, Kershaw allows his first base runner of the game when he walks Robert Carson. That was Carson’s first career plate appearance. Tejada walks, and all of a sudden Kersh has given up consecutive free passes. Daniel Murphy singles which allows Carson to score, and the game is now all tied up 1-1. David Wright continues the damage, and his single plates another run as the Mets take the lead. Kershaw is really struggling, and he walks John Buck to load the bases up. All this with two outs. They finally get out of the inning on a broken bat grounder to third by Marlon Byrd.

The Dodgers go down in order on a couple good defensive plays by the Mets infield and a strikeout by Sellers.

Kershaw settles down in the bottom of the fourth, and the Mets go down 1-2-3.

In the top of the fifth our golden second baseman Mark Ellis wallops his 100th career homerun over the left field wall! The ballgame is all tied up again, 2-2. The Mets go to the bullpen, and Scott Atchison will come in on a double switch. He retires Matt Kemp on a groundout to short to end the inning.

Daniel Murphy singles with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. David Wright walks, and that’s Kershaw’s fourth walk of the evening. Kershaw strikes out John Buck to end the threat!

The Dodgers go down quietly in the sixth. Ronald Belisario comes in to relieve Kershaw in the bottom of the sixth. Kershaw pitched 5 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits with 5 strikeouts and 4 walks on 111 pitches. Beli strikes out Byrd to start things off. Belisario makes a bare hand catch on a Duda grounder for out number two. Justin Turner strikes out on a foul tip. Belisario is looking a lot better that inning than he has lately.

Brandon Lyon is pitching the seventh inning for New York. He strikes out A.J. Ellis. Justin Sellers comes up with an infield single for his second hit of the game. Juan Uribe draws a rare walk. The runners advance to second and third on a groundout by Crawford. Then Mark Ellis comes up and smacks his second homerun of the game to left field! The Dodgers take a 5-2 lead on the three-run homerun! That’s Mark’s third two-homerun game of his career.

Paco Rodriguez is in for the bottom of the seventh. Jordany Valdespin strikes out swinging. Juan Lagares picks up his first Major League hit with a single to left field. Tejada grounds into a force out. Murphy pops out.

Jon Niese is injured after pitching just 2 1/3 innings. He suffered a contusion on his leg. Photo: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Josh Edgin, a southpaw, comes out of the New York pen for the eighth inning. Adrian Gonzalez hits a little broken bat blooper on a 3-2 pitch. Tim Federowicz pops out. Andre Ethier doubles down the right field line, and the Dodgers have runners on second and third with one out. A.J. Ellis then doubles off the left center field wall, and the Dodgers plate another two runs! 7-2. Justin Sellers hits his third single of the night, and the Dodgers continue their rally versus Edgin here in the eighth. The Mets hook Edgin and bring in Jeurys Familia. He strikes out Uribe. Crawford grounds out to end the inning, but the Dodgers hang another two runs on the board.

Matt Guerrier is on the mound in the bottom of the eighth. Other than a sketchy John Buck deep fly ball caught by Skip Schumaker, Guerrier pitches a perfect inning.

Matt Kemp doubles to deep center field in the ninth. Kemp seems to be coming around. He has two hits on the night.

Josh Wall will try to give the Dodgers their second win in as many games in the bottom of the ninth. Wall strikes out Duda on three pitches. Justin Turner flies out. Ike Davis strikes out, and the Dodgers take game one!

The Dodgers are now 9-10 on the season, and they have now won two in a row. Let me take a moment and recognize the excellent bullpen pitching tonight. Belisario was effective, Paco, Wall, and even Guerrier pitched decently.

Join us tomorrow as Ted Lilly makes his season debut in game two at 4:10 p.m.