NEW YORK – After a disappointing weekend in Cincinnati, where they were swept by the Reds, the Los Angeles Dodgers turned the page by winning both games of a doubleheader against the New York Mets on Tuesday.
The Dodgers’ bats were inept after seven innings in the afternoon duel, but their patience ended up getting the better of the New Yorkers, with a 5-2 victory.
Star first baseman Freddie Freeman was particularly effective, with five hits and three RBIs during these two games.
Tyler Glasnow, who leads the majors in strikeouts, limited Mets batters to two earned runs in seven innings during Game 1.
In the evening, it was the turn of Gavin Stone (5-2) to do well on the mound for Los Angeles.
The right-hander worked seven innings as well, giving up only three hits to the crowd favorites.
The Californian team returns to a 35-22 record, after a recent slide of five defeats.
If the slide of the Dodgers has been slowed, the descent into hell of the Mets – holders of the second highest payroll in the MLB – does not seem to be about to end.
Not hiding his frustration at seeing his team underperform like this, general manager David Stearns did not mince his words during a meeting with the press earlier Tuesday.
“We have to face the truth: we have not played like a playoff team so far. This is the reality of our performance after around fifty games,” conceded Stearns.
“That doesn’t mean we won’t get there… but we have to start demonstrating it,” he insisted.
With their record of 22-32 after these two other failures, the Mets already find themselves more than five games behind in the race for teams drafted in the National.
Now 16 homers for Ozuna
Marcell Ozuna hit a 16th home run and Max Fried did very well in eight innings, as the Atlanta Braves won 2-0 at the expense of the Washington Nationals.
National leader in long balls, Ozuna hit a solo home run in the seventh.
He produced a 48th point this season; in this regard, he is trailed only by Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Guardians, with 54.
Fried (5-2) gave up seven hits and one walk, striking out six batters.
Fried benefited from double plays in the first, fourth, sixth and seventh innings.
He also caught Jesse Winker on the wrong foot, in fifth.
Raisel Iglesias collected his 13th save. He is fourth in the National at this level.
Jake Irvin struck out 10 batters. He left after six innings, allowing only two hits and two walks.
Ozuna hit his cannon shot against Jacob Barnes (2-2).
Matt Olson followed with a single. He went up two on a Sean Murphy single, then scored on a Jarred Kelenic sacrifice fly.
Elsewhere in Major League Baseball
Boston 8 – Baltimore 3
BOS: Wilyer Abreu (6) and Rob Refsnyder (2) hit home runs. Rafael Devers had four hits.
BALL: Jordan Westburg drove in two runs with a single in the first inning.
Oakland 3 – Tampa Bay 0
OAK: Miguel Andujar (1) stretched his arms while Quebecer Abraham Toro got two hits.
TB: Zack Littell (2-3) had nine strikeouts in seven innings.
Kansas City 2 – Minnesota 4
KC: The Royals were held to five hits.
MIN:Jose Miranda hit a two-run single while Édouard Julien had a hit in two appearances.
Chicago Cubs 6 – Milwaukee 3 (ten innings)
CHI: Starter Ben Brown was hitless in seven innings. He had ten strikeouts. Michael Busch (8) hit a home run.
MI L: Freddy Peralta had eleven strikeouts in 5.2 innings.
Cleveland – Colorado
KEY :
COLLAR :
St. Louis 7 – Cincinnati 1
STL: Nolan Arenado (4), and Nolan Gorman (9) were the authors of a home run each.
CIN: Will Benson (8) produced his team’s only point with a home run.
Arizona 2 – Texas 4
ARI: Brandon Pfaadt (2-4) was the victim of the Rangers’ four runs in seven innings.
TEX: Corey Seager (12) was the author of a three-run homer.
NY Yankees – LA Angels
NYY:
LAA:
Philadelphia – San Francisco
PHI:
SF:
Miami – San Diego
MIA:
SD:
Houston – Seattle
HOU:
SEA:
Pittsbugh – Detroit (match postponed)
