Dodgers floored by Steven Matz, Mets in series finale

LOS ANGELES -- The top of the Mets batting order had a field day on Sunday, and Steven Matz had his way with the Dodgers in his second major league start, giving New York an easy 8-0 win on Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.

Leadoff man Curtis Granderson was 2-for-5 with a double and a walk.

No. 2 hitter Daniel Murphy was 3-for-4 with a walk and a hit by pitch, tying a career-high by reaching base five times.

Cleanup man Wilmer Flores set a career-high with four hits, including two doubles, driving in three runs.

All that spelled trouble for Mike Bolsinger, who needed 101 pitches to get through five innings. He allowed four runs on nine hits, the latter a new season high.

Bolsinger has averaged just 4.73 innings over his last five starts, never lasting longer than 5⅓ innings during that span.

Matz was quite impressive in just his second major league start, allowing just two singles and two walks in his six innings while striking out eight.

The Mets' fourth-inning rally gave them breathing room, and including five hits and three runs during the frame. One of the hits was a ground ball by Juan Lagares headed toward second baseman Howie Kendrick for an easy out, but instead struck umpire Dan Bellino, by rule (MLB rule 5.09 (f) if you were wondering) a single and a dead ball.

But that wasn't even the most costly ball to strike another human for the Dodgers on Sunday. That would be the first-inning hit by pitch of Adrian Gonzalez, struck in the right hand by a Matz fastball. Gonzalez played three more innings in the field before leaving with a right hand contusion.

Gonzalez did not get X-rays on the hand, which was still swollen after the game. He expects to play on Monday.

Lagares, who was awarded a single on that ground ball, was living right on Sunday. He lofted a fly ball to right center field that should have ended the seventh inning. But instead, Yasiel Puig lost the ball in the sun and overran it, allowing the ball to drop untouched for a two-run triple.

Notes

Yasmani Grandal entered the game on a double switch in the top of the eighth inning and played the final two innings at first base. It was his first time at the position as a Dodger, after playing 37 games, including 33 starts, at first base for the Padres in 2014. "If the ball gets hit to you, you just have to keep it in front of you."

Mets pitching held the Dodger to five runs and 16 hits during the three game series.

New York's 15 hits on Sunday matched the second-most allowed by the Dodgers this season. San Diego pounded out 20 hits against them on May 24.

Flores entered the series with three hits in his previous 23 at-bats. He had at least three hits in all three weekend games at Dodger Stadium, finishing the series 10-for-13 with five RBI.

Matz, who was 3-for-3 last Sunday in his major league debut, was 0-for-3 against the Dodgers, but one of the outs was a run-scoring ground ball, giving him five RBI in two major league games.

Logan Verrett pitched the final three innings for the Mets, earning the first three-inning save at Dodger Stadium since Jamey Wright on May 31, 2014. It was Verrett's first major league save.

Sunday particulars

Home runs: none

WP - Steven Matz (2-0): 6 IP, 2 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts

LP - Mike Bolsinger (4-3): 5 IP, 9 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts

Sv - Logan Verrett (1): 3 IP, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts