The Los Angeles Dodgers were leading 3-2 in the eighth inning when Daniel Hudson was unavailable to pitch. They then gave up two runs and tied the game in the ninth before losing 5-4 in the 10th on a single by JD Davis.
“Hopefully the test is more so at the end of the year,” Davis said after leading the Mets to a comeback victory. “I think this was more of a quiz and we weren’t at full strength… Just to come out here and get a split says a lot about our team.”
The loss marked the end of a brutal 30-day stretch for the Dodgers. They went from winning 19 of their previous 31 games to losing five of seven during their homestand. Trea Turner, the team’s shortstop, said that the team still had potential, but it was essential to focus on what they were doing instead of worrying about the past.
The game’s dramatic ending was a fitting conclusion to the series between the two best teams in the National League—the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets.
How Dodgers lose two-run lead
In the eighth inning, the New York team used Edwin Diaz to face the Dodgers’ potent lineup, which included Trea Turner, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. Diaz was able to retire the side in order. In the ninth, middle reliever Seth Lugo, closed the game with a 4-2 lead.
After allowing a home run to Will Smith, Lugo started the game by retiring the next two batters. He also engaged Chris Taylor in a duel that ended with a double. After Eddy Alvarez hit a line-drive single to the center field, Taylor scored the tying run. Two days after his major-league debut, Alvarez started at third base.
Los Angeles closer Craig Kimbrel had only pitched once in the previous six days. In the ninth inning, manager Dave Roberts decided to use him as he was trailing by two runs. He stayed out for the 10th after Kimbrel could pitch the inning on 10 pitches.
Pete Alonso was immediately placed on second base, and he scored on a single by JD Davis. However, the Dodgers were still down 5-4 after one batter was able to reach base in the 10th.
In the 10th inning, Lugo was replaced by Adalberto Medina, who was able to preserve the lead. Turner reached base on a catcher’s interference call, but Smith was struck out to end the game.
Despite getting some baserunners, the Dodgers were not able to capitalize on their opportunities. According to Turner, the team’s struggles at the plate were mainly due to the home runs that the New York team hit.
The three-run home run by the New York team in the eighth inning was made possible by the efficient performance of Tyler Anderson, who was able to throw six innings on Friday. However, Roberts decided to use Hudson instead of going to his usual bullpen. Hudson then beceame unavailable for the rest of the weekend.