Dodgers comeback for naught in walk-off loss to Mets

Chase Utley did his best to embrace his New York villain status and give the Dodgers extra life, but the late comeback efforts only delayed what seemed inevitable after a slow start, a Mets victory in the opener of a three-game weekend series at Citi Field in New York.

The Dodgers' borrowed time lasted all of two pitches, as Curtis Granderson hit a leadoff home run against Pedro Baez, giving the Mets a 6-5, walk-off win.

The bottom of the ninth was necessary because Mets closer Jeurys Familia was unable to finish off a non-save situation. Down 5-1, the Dodgers had just four hits in the first eight innings of the game. But they got three against Familia to load the bases with one out, then he walked Yasmani Grandal to force in a run.

Utley, who was booed all night by Mets fans still unhappy with his late slide in Game 2 of the 2015 NLCS, then doubled to the right field gap against Familia, clearing the bases to tie the game, and advancing to third on the throw. Utley reached base three times in the game and drove in four runs.

Corey Seager, who had two hits on the night, struck out to end the ninth and strand the go-ahead run in Utley at third base.

The loss ruined a comeback after an early and seemingly insurmountable hole against Jacob deGrom.

Down 3-0 after one inning thanks to a shaky Julio Urias, the Dodgers actually threatened against deGrom in multiple frames - loading the bases with nobody out in the second inning, putting two runners on base with nobody out in the third, and getting two more on base with two outs in the fourth.

But all the Dodgers had to show for those opportunities was a single run, on a sacrifice fly to center field in the third inning.

They were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position against deGrom on Friday night, and since the start of the 2015 season the Dodgers are 4-for-30 with RISP against deGrom in five starts, including the playoffs.

That goes a long way in describing deGrom's 1.30 ERA in those five starts, as do his 39 strikeouts and nine walks in 34⅔ innings. The right-hander struck out seven and walked three in his seven innings on Friday.

After those neutered Dodgers rallies, deGrom retired his final seven batters faced.

The Mets, meanwhile tacked on solo home runs to expand their lead, by David Wright off Chris Hatcher in the fourth inning, and Juan Lagares off Joe Blanton in the fifth. Lagares went 3-for-4 on the night with three RBI.

Friday marked just the third time since 2000 that three different Dodgers relievers allowed a home run in the same game. The last time was May 17, 2014, when four relievers did so in Arizona.

Up next

The Dodgers have a rematch of sorts on Saturday afternoon, a 4:15 p.m. PT game exclusively on Fox, with Kenta Maeda on the mound, hoping to allow fewer than two home runs to Noah Syndergaard this time around.

Friday particulars

Home runs: David Wright (7), Juan Lagares (5), Curtis Granderson (9)

WP - Jeurys Familia (2-0): 1 IP, 4 hits, 4 runs, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts

LP - Pedro Baez (0-1): 0 IP, 1 hits, 1 run