NLDS Game 3 Recap: Mets Hammer Dodgers To Pull L.A. On Brink Of Elimination
Cespedes knocked a one-out single in the third, and Anderson nearly worked his way around it by striking out Duda looking. However, d’Arnoud jumped on a first-pitch breaking ball fora two-run home run that extended the Mets’ lead to 6-3.
Harvey walked pinch-hitter Joc Pederson with two outs in the fourth, but didn’t allow it cost him as he then struck out Kendrick swinging. Alex Wood came on in relief of Anderson in the bottom of the fourth, and promptly allowed a leadoff double to Juan Lagares.
David Wright was intentionally walked to set up a lefty-on-lefty matchup. Daniel Murphy got the better of it, dropping an RBI single in left field. Cespedes then worked a full count and blew the game open with a three-run home run launched to the second deck in left field.
Outside of base hits by Gonzalez and Ethier, the Dodgers didn’t make any noise in the fifth, and the Mets’ 10-3 remained intact. Wood gave up a double to Flores and walked pinch-hitter Michael Cuddyer before managing to get out of the fifth inning unscathed.
Bartolo Colon took over for the Mets in the sixth and struck out the side consisting of Grandal, Kiké Hernandez, and pinch-hitter Yasiel Puig. After Yimi Garcia walked Wright to start the bottom of the sixth, he struck out the next three batters.
Kendrick led off the seventh with a base hit, but was erased on a Rollins double play. Losing runners hurt, as Gonzalez followed with what only ended up being a solo home run. Pedro Baez entered in the bottom of the seventh and allowed the Mets to load the bases with no outs on a leadoff single and consecutive walks.
Michael Confort’s sacrifice fly off J.P. Howell not only scored a run, it advanced Flores and Lagares. Granderson added to his big night, extending the Mets’ lead to 13-4 with a two-run double over Crawford’s head. The 13 runs allowed set a new record for the Dodgers.
Hernandez and Corey Seager combined for back-to-back singles in the ninth, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Kendrick hit a three-run homer, and Rollins singled to left field, which marked the end of the night for Erik Goeddel.
Mets manager Terry Collins called on Jeurys Familia in the non-save situation, and his closer ended the Dodgers’ rally to complete the Mets’ 13-7 win.
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Unfortunately logical Dodgers Fans know that after Kershaw, and Greinke there are no options. Last night’s performance by the “Gas Can Brothers” (Wood/Anderson) it is very feasible to assume that the Dodgers can never make the World Series with the status quo. Unfortunately Friedman has left the Dodgers as vulnerable as ever, leaving Mattingly little options. Don’t get me wrong, I want my Dodgers to destroy the competition, but reality from the beginning tells me, it ain’t gonna happen.
On another observation can anyone tell me why Mattingly is playing Crawford? Between Mcguire and Mattingly haven’t they watched Crawford’s at bats? 99% of every pitch has been outside the box and he is flailing over and over at the ball. He looks uncomfortable and ridiculous at the plate. Also he seems way out of sorts in left field. He’s bobbling the ball and misjudging flyballs too. I just don’t get why he’s there if he’s struggling so mightily.
There is no point of return in the playoffs and yet it seems to me management is hand tied or oblivious.
We might win the next two, but then what? Where is the pitching gonna come from after Greinke?
Lastly does anyone realize that if Dee Gordon was a Dodger and with them winning the Division, he would have had an excellent chance at taking the MVP award? I would even predict that this team would have won at least 100 games this season. What a shame, and it shows me how average Friedman is at picking and trading for pitching talent. What a mistake. I’ll never get over that trade. Friedman needs to be held accountable for that f*ck-up.