Dodgers and Josh Beckett Take a Bite Out of the Big Apple

Dodgers 9 15 0

Mets 4 11 1

WP- Beckett (2-1)

LP- Montero (0-2)

HR- Gonzalez (11), Granderson (6), Duda (5)

The Dodgers started off the series in the Big Apple on a winning note thanks to an offensive explosion versus the Mets’ pitching and a some nice defensive plays. Josh Beckett pitched 5 strong innings before getting flustered and unraveled in the sixth when he allowed two homeruns and couldn’t get an out in the inning. Beckett was angered by the home plate umpire, and he was shouting obscenities about the strike zone before being taken out of the game.

May 20, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Josh Beckett (61) pitches during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Nevertheless Beckett collected his second win of the year, and for once the Dodgers’ bullpen was able to hold on to the lead after J.P. Howell, Chris Withrow, Brian Wilson, and Kenley Jansen combined to pitch four scoreless frames.

The Dodger offense was fun to watch tonight as Beckett helped his own cause in the second on a RBI single, the Dodgers scored four big runs in the fifth thanks to a beautiful two-run homerun from Gonzo, a HanRam RBI single in the sixth, and finally three additional runs off veteran Valverde in the top of the ninth for good measure.

The Dodgers unfortunately lost Juan Uribe in the ninth inning after he pulled up on a double apparently reinjuring his hamstring. We will keep you posted on his injury which could be crucial in the Dodgers roster decision tomorrow when they activate Hyun-jin Ryu for the start.

The big story came out of the minor league camp before the Dodgers game as word got out that a fight ensued between Miguel Olivo and prized prospect Alex Guerrero during their road game with the Isotopes in Salt Lake City. Olivo acted like an animal and punched Guerrero and then reportedly bit a part of his ear. Guerrero had to undergo plastic surgery, and he could be out for as long as five weeks since the ear affected would be the one covered by the batting helmet ear flap. The Dodgers have yet to proceed with any punishments, and Guerrero has the option to file charges. I’d like to see Olivo released by the team, because that sort of behavior is simply incomprehensible.

Here’s how the much happier Dodger win played out…

The Dodgers get on the board in the second inning against Rafael Montero. Carl Crawford, who made a fine catch on a line drive in the previous inning, draws a one-out walk. Crawford steals second while Juan Uribe is busy striking out at the plate, and CC takes third on a throwing error by catcher Juan Centeno. A.J. Ellis is unintentionally intentionally walked, but the plan backfires as Josh Beckett singles on a soft line drive over Murphy’s head and into right field bringing in a run! Dee Gordon walks, and the bases are loaded as Montero continues to be flustered after the costly error. Montero escapes the bases loaded jam by striking out the National League Player of the Week Yasiel Puig to end the inning. Montero has already made 48 pitched through two innings, but the Dodgers were only able to squeeze out one run.

The Mets tie it up 1-1 in the bottom of the second. Curtis Granderson leads off  with a double to the right field corner. Granderson goes to third on a fly out to center by Chris Young. Lucas Duda is out on a little dribbler in front of the plate, and Beckett just gets him out at first. Granderson has to stay at third. Wilmer Flores singles to deep short, and the run comes home with Granderson.

Adrian Gonzalez hits a stand-up double to center field with one out in the third. Matt Kemp singles, but the slow Gonzo holds at third. Montero

May 20, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (23) and right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) celebrate scoring during the fifth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

strikes out Crawford who mutters to himself while walking back to the dugout. Uribe flies out to right, and the Dodgers strand two and fail to score.

Beckett allows a walk and a stolen base to Eric Young in the bottom of the third, but the Mets can’t muster much else against the reinvented right-hander.

The Dodgers go down 1-2-3 in the fourth.

Beckett’s third strike out victim of the game is Granderson to begin the bottom half of the fourth. Young grounds out, and Duda strikes out as the Mets go down in order.

In the fifth, Gonzo goes deep for a two-run homerun to center field! Puig gets the free ride home after drawing the lead-off walk. Matt Kemp follows with a double over the head of Young. Crawford’s RBI single gives the Dodgers their third run of the inning. That’s going to be all for Montero who is lifted and replaced by Jeurys Familia. With Uribe batting, Crawford steals second then takes third on a wild pitch. Uribe’s broken bat bloop hit to left allows the fourth run of the inning to cross home plate, and the Dodgers take a 5-1 lead. A.J. Ellis ends the inning with a double play, but the Dodgers chase Montero out of the game after scoring four times.

Rafael Montero lasted 4 1/3 innings and allowed 5 runs on 7 hits with 4 strikeouts and 4 walks on 97 pitches.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Mets manage back-to-back-back hits to load up the bases. The hits came from the bats of Centeno, pinch-hitter Eric Campbell, and Young. Beckett strikes out Murphy for the big second out. Then in a nine-pitch battle at-bat against the always dangerous David Wright, Beckett uses his new and improved curve to induce an inning ending groundout to second! Beckett really is impressive this season.

Carlos Torres is in to pitch for the Mets in the sixth. Puig doubles high off the right field wall with two outs. Hanley Ramirez singles in Puig, and the Dodgers lead 6-1. Adrian Gonzalez singles to center, and Hanley advances to third. Kemp grounds into a force out, but the Dodgers still tack on another run.

Things escalate very quickly in the bottom of the sixth. Curtis Granderson opens the bottom of the frame with a big solo homerun to left center. Chris Young also drills the ball to center for a double, and it looks as if Beckett is running out of gas. Then Duda hits one out, a long ball to right, and all of a sudden it’s 6-4. Rick Honeycutt will go out to the mound to talk to Beckett. Flores walks, and Mattingly has finally seen enough as Beckett totally loses it after pitching so well the first five innings. The DonnieSwitch™ brings in Andre Ethier to take over in center field for Kemp and J.P. Howell will come out of the pen. Howell strikes out Centeno and Ruben Tejada. Young flies pops out to Dee, and the inning is over.

May 20, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (23) has New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda (21) out during the second inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Josh Beckett pitched 5 innings while allowing 4 runs on 8 hits with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks on 99 pitches. Apparently Beckett was angered by the home plate umpire on pitches he thought should have been strikes and lost his focus.

Daisuke Matsuzaka sends the Dodgers down in order in the seventh.

J.P. Howell is in again to pitch to Murphy in the bottom half of the seventh. Murphy strikes out, and Howell has now fanned 3 Mets in 1 1/3 inning. Wright singles along the right field line. Granderson hits his third hit of the night, a single to right. The tying runs are on base with one out. Mattingly will now bring in Chris Withrow. Withrow, Mr. consistently inconsistent, proceeds to immediately hit Chris Young with a pitch in the elbow to load the bases up. Dee makes a nice catch in shallow center to retire Duda for the second out. Flores grounds into a force out, and Withrow escapes the jam.

In the eighth, Matsuzaka hits Puig with a pitch and walks Hanley with two outs. The Mets will bring in a new pitcher out of the bullpen. Scott Rice will pitch to Gonzo. A wild pitch advances to the runners to second and third. Rice walks Gonzo to load the bases up, and Scott Van Slyke will pinch-hit. There will be yet another double switch as good old friend Bobby “Blue” Abreu will come in to the game along with Jose Valverde. Is today Throwback Tuesday?! Van Slyke battles Valverde, but he is retired on a broken bat fly ball.

Brian Wilson will be handed the ball for the bottom of the eighth. Centeno grounds out to second, but Bobby Abreu legs out an infield single. Yes, Bobby Abreu legs out a single to short after Hanley’s throw is too slow. Young lines out to Crawford. Wilson rears back to strike out Murphy to end the frame, and he is muttering to himself as he heads back to the dugout after the scoreless inning of work.

Valverde is still in for the top of the ninth. Crawford collects another hit, a lead-off single. Uribe doubles to left field, and he apparently hurt his

May 20, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Rafael Montero (50) heads to the dugout after being relieved during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

hamstring again and has to be removed from the game. Justin Turner comes in to pinch-run for Uribe. A.J. Ellis strikes out. The Mets will bring in Josh Edgin to pitch to Ethier. Crawford slides by the high tag at home on a fielder’s choice by Ethier. Gordon singles down the left field line, and the Dodgers bring in the second run of the inning as Turner crosses home plate. Puig’s RBI single makes it 9-4 Dodgers, but Gordon is tagged out trying to go to third on the play. Hanley grounds into a force to end the inning.

Kenley Jansen will pitch the bottom of the ninth even though it’s not a save situation, but he has not pitched in eight days. Gonzo snares a line drive from Wright and robbing him of a base hit! Jansen whiffs Granderson for the second out. Young strikes out, and the Dodgers take the first of three games in the Big Apple.

The Dodgers improve to 24-22, and they’ll come back out to Citi Field tomorrow afternoon for Game 2 as Hyun-jin Ryu makes his first start since returning from the disabled list. The Mets will counter with rookie Jacob deGrom.