Walker Buehler adds to Cy Young campaign as Dodgers win eighth straight

Walker Buehler added another gem of a game to his Cy Young Award campaign, as the Dodgers won their eighth straight game, beating the Mets 3-2. The Dodgers have now won eight straight games and five straight this season against the Mets.

Buehler had his longest outing of the year, as he went 7 ²⁄₃ innings. He allowed two runs to score on six hits while striking out eight. With the exception of a Pete Alonso home run in the fourth inning, Buehler was essentially in cruise control all night. It was the eighth inning when things really got intense and Dodger Stadium turned into a playoff atmosphere.

Buehler allowed a leadoff single, allowing the Mets to bring the tying run to the plate. After a strikeout, Brandon Nimmo reached on a soft infield single, putting two runners on and bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. Buehler then struck out Jeff McNeil on a very questionable call, but it gave the Dodgers two outs.

Alonso stepped up to the plate with runners on second and third and two outs. On the third pitch of the AB, he dribbled a single down the third base line, bringing in a run to make it a 3-2 game. Buehler was visibly upset following the hit, saying it went off Alonso’s foot. Upon further review, it looks like it did.

Instead of it being ruled a strike, the Mets were within a run. Buehler was removed from the game and was tossed by the home plate umpire after exchanging words on his way to the dugout.

“[I was] trying to be competitive and thinking I’m making pitches,” Buehler said on the ejection. “Just a little frustrating there at the end. He told me to stop, I didn’t stop. At the end of the day, just trying to be competitive and get out of there.”

Alex Vesia relieved Buehler, needing one out to get out of the inning. Michael Conforto worked a walk, battling Vesia for 10 pitches. With the bases loaded, J.D. Davis stepped up to the plate. Vesia got three swinging strikes, including strike three at 96 mph to end the inning with the Dodgers still ahead.

“I knew [Roberts] was probably going to have me in the eighth, I went out there and executed.” Vesia said following the game.

Look at this passion from Vesia. I freaking love it.

“I’m just being myself,” Vesia said. “I fully embrace being a Dodger. It brings out that emotion and my desire to do good and compete. We have a great team. We’re going to be special this year.”

“He just knows how to not let the emotions get too high,” Dave Roberts added. “Our relievers are coming of age and he’s right there at the top of the list. He showed us a lot.”

Onto the ninth, where Kenley Jansen was handed the ball with a one-run lead. Before you even had a chance to worry if he’d potentially blow the lead, Jansen was securing the save. He retired the side on only seven pitches, all of which were strikes, including the game-winning strikeout.

With so much going on late in the game, it’s easy to forget what happened prior to that. Well, not much you can say about the offense. They scored three runs, and that was enough.

Trea Turner led off the bottom of the first with a double and eventually came in to score on a groundout. Then in the third inning Max Muncy hit a double, scoring Turner and giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead. Corey Seager singled in Muncy, giving the Dodgers a three-run lead. Seager’s single in the third inning was actually LA’s last base hit for the rest of the night.

It seemed like the Dodgers never won these kind of games all season. But now, look out, they’re starting to.

With the Giants loss, the Dodgers are only 1.5 games out of first place. Fasten those seatbelts ladies and gentlemen.

Friday particulars

WP: Walker Buehler (13-2) 7 ²⁄₃ IP, 2 ER, 8 SO, 0 BB

LP: Carlos Carrasco (0-2) 5 IP, 3 ER, 6 SO

SV: Kenley Jansen (26) 1 IP, 0 ER, 1 SO

HR: Pete Alonso (27)

Box score

Up next

The Dodgers have a rare 1:10 p.m. game on Saturday. Max Scherzer will face off against old friend Rich Hill.