Dodgers overcome early deficit, pile on runs in win over Mets

It can look pretty bleak when a team gets down by four runs early. Coming off a tough loss in the ninth inning just one night earlier, that kind of deficit would’ve been all but insurmountable for the Dodgers of two weeks ago.

But there has been a recent development for this team, stringing runs together to come from behind. They were at it again Tuesday night, overcoming a 4-0 hole to beat the Mets 11-4 going away for their ninth win in 11 games.

The win allows the Dodgers to keep pace with the Rockies and Diamondbacks, who both won. It’s also the third time this season the Dodgers have overcome a deficit of four runs to win.

Rich Hill didn’t get his night going the way he wanted, giving up a two-run homer in each of the second and third innings. But the lefty would settle in to finish six innings, not allowing a run the rest of the way, striking out eight against one walk and seven hits.

Hill’s teammates would get those four runs back just as quick as they were given up.

Austin Barnes — having a frustrating year at the plate — got ahold of a Jason Vargas 86-mph fastball and deposited it in the left field seats. Just the second home run of the year for the Dodger backstop, immediately put his team right back in the game.

The hits kept coming in the fourth as the first four Dodgers would reach. A leadoff homer for David Freese — his first as a Dodger — cut the Mets lead to one. Two batters later, with runners on second and third, New York third baseman Todd Frazier had a pair of lapses that allowed the Dodgers to take the lead for good.

Frazier botched a ground ball off the bat of Barnes to tie the game with Kike Hernandez bringing home the run. After an unsuccessful squeeze bunt for Hill, Barnes came into score on a ground ball that Frazier threw to second in a double play attempt.

Having all the momentum on their side, the Dodgers unloaded in the seventh. They would send nine hitters to the plate in a six-run outburst that put the game away. It wouldn’t be until the seventh batter of the frame when the Mets would get the first out.

Three of the first four batters smacked opposite-field doubles to widen the lead to 8-4. After Justin Turner and Manny Machado started the inning with consecutive two-baggers, Machado came all the way in to score from second on a wild pitch.

A pair of singles later and the Dodgers had scored four to knock Met reliever Corey Oswald from the game without recording an out. Two batters later, Yasmani Grandal just missed a three-run homer, sending the ball off the short wall in the right field corner to sore two more.

Josh Fields started the ninth in his first appearance since June 26, but wouldn’t continue after loading the bases with nobody out. It wouldn’t matter as Pat Venditte came in to shut the door without surrendering a run.

Tuesday was the 12th time the Dodgers have scored at least 11 runs in 2018. It was also the 27th consecutive game that the Dodgers have held their opponent to five runs or less, going back to August 5.

There are only seven home games left in the regular season and the drama is bound to unfold. The Dodgers will welcome the Rockies to town September 17-19 in a series that could decide the division. Get your tickets here though our friends at StubHub.

Up Next

The Dodgers and and Mets finish out the series with the rubber match. Hyun-jin Ryu (4-1, 2.24 ERA) takes the mound for the Dodgers against Zack Wheeler (9-7, 3.37 ERA).

Tuesday particulars

Home runs: Bruce (5), Conforto (21), Barnes (2), Freese (10)

WP - Rich Hill (7-5): 6 IP, 7 hits, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts

LP - Jason Vargas (5-9): 3 ¹⁄₃ IP, 6 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 1 walk, 2 strikeouts