After sweeping the Tampa Bay Rays, the Dodgers beat the New York Mets 4-2 in game one of their three-game series. Ricky Nolasco got the start, with a solid 6.1 innings, giving up seven hits and two runs with two walks and two strikeouts.
In the second inning, Nolasco gave up four straight singles to Ike Davis, Wilmer Flores, John Buck, and Omar Quintanilla, with Buck and Quintanilla providing RBI hits. After going down 2-0 in the Nolasco retired the Mets in order, but got into trouble in the seventh.
Nolasco put two runners on with a single and a walk, giving the Mets a huge chance to score. Ronald Belisario was brought in as relief, but loaded the bases with another single. Paco Rodriguez came in with bases loaded and two outs, inducing a line drive to right-center field that Yasiel Puig just managed to track down.
In his third start of the season, the Mets' Jenrry Mejia held the Dodgers to three hits through five innings, but his defense let him down in the sixth. Carl Crawford grounded sharply to second base, but Daniel Murphy bobbled the ball allowing him to reach on an infield single.
Mark Ellis then reached base with a blooper that was just out of Murphy's reach, hitting the tip of his glove. Adrian Gonzalez brought in one run on a drive to right field, but Marlon Byrd tried to catch Mark Ellis at third base with the ball getting away and ending up in the Dodger dugout.
The stray ball scored a run and advanced Gonzalez to third. Yasiel Puig hit a sacrifice to score Gonzalez for the Dodgers third run of the inning. Both plays by Murphy in the inning were ruled hits, which is justifiable, but Byrd's error was a complete gift to push the rolling Mejia out of the game.
Nick Punto's hot August continued with a 1-3 night. His one hit was a huge home run to the right field bullpen for a seventh-inning insurance run, putting the final score at 4-2.
Kenley Jansen was brought in for a four-out close, his 18th save of the season. He struck out three of four batters faced, meaning Jansen has struck out 15 of his last 20 batters faced.
The Dodgers have won six straight and are 38-8 in their last 46 games, which is the best 46-game stretch since 1900 for the franchise. Is this the best Dodger squad since 1900? In the last 46 games, maybe, but greatness is not defined in the regular season, so let's wait and see about that.
Tomorrow they take on All-Star starting pitcher Matt Harvey with Hyun-Jin Ryu on the mound for game two against the Mets.
Tweets From #Dodgers Nation
Agreed. Gonzalez has been the most consistent Dodger position player all year
With all the "Puig-amania", allow me to remind you how good Adrian Gonzalez is #Dodgers — Michael Smith (@mikeys322) August 13, 2013
Started out rough, but finished the night well at least
Nolasco is stinking up the joint tonight. #Dodgers — David Romano (@davidalice) August 13, 2013
Fine way to top off 38 win in 46 games!
Nick Punto gave Danny DeVito high fives after his HR. DeVito wearing Punto #Dodgers jersey. Can it get any more amazing? — Michael Martinez (@ByMMartinez) August 13, 2013
