Justin Turner, Yasiel Puig, and Jimmy Rollins all homered and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Mets 7-2 on Friday at Citi Field.
Turner has been on fire against his former team as the red-headed third baseman went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs, a home run and a run scored. Turner played 159 games for the Mets from 2010 to 2013, and was non-tendered by the Mets and signed by the Dodgers just before the 2014 season.
"I'm comfortable hitting here, and enjoyed hitting here when I played here for the Mets," Turner said about Citi Field. "It's a familiar feeling in the box and obviously I hit well here tonight. "
Ian Thomas made his first start in a Dodgers uniform after pitching in the minor leagues for most of the year. Thomas (1-1) is a dead look alike for reigning MVP Clayton Kershaw and is often considered his doppleganger.
Thomas did his best Kershaw impression on the mound on Friday, allowing just one run on three hits with five strikeouts in five innings. Thomas was acquired from Atlanta in late-May in the deal that sent Juan Uribe to the Braves.
"Having Greinke down on paternity leave, I thought it was big to be able to give our guys a chance," Thomas said. "We put the bat on the ball early and for me to come in and put those shutout innings up, I thought that was key."
Thomas came out of the bullpen as a reliever earlier in the year in an appearance in Colorado against the Rockies. Thomas gave up four runs and got the loss that day, but says he's ready to contribute wherever he is needed for the team.
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"I've had a handful of starts over the years, whatever keeps us in the game and helps us win I'm willing to do," Thomas continued.
Super-utility, Kiké Hernandez, was inserted into the Dodgers lineup last minute in left field after Alex Guerrero who was originally slated to start the game, was scratched with lower back tightness. Hernandez made the most of his opportunity going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Turner doubled in the first run of the game in the top of the first inning, and Joc Pederson doubled home Jimmy Rollins in the second.
With the score 3-0 in the top of the third inning, Turner hit a blast to left field off Jonathon Niese for his 13th home run of the season. Two batters later, after a Scott Van Slyke single, Puig hit a two-run bomb to the same spot as Turner to give the Dodgers a comfortable 6-0 lead.
Niese (5-9) struggled on the mound allowing six runs on eight hits in just three innings.
Rollins hit a moon shot in the top of the eighth inning, his second consecutive game with a solo home run. Rollins went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and now has 279 hits against the Mets, the most among all active players and just 10 behind Lou Brock for second most in MLB history.
Josh Ravin who was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City before the game pitched a perfect ninth inning for the Dodgers.
Game Notes:
Zack Greinke was scheduled to start the game for the Dodgers putting his 43.2 inning scoreless streak on the line. However, Greinke flew to Los Angeles to be with his wife Emily as they gave birth to their son Bode who was born on Thursday night.
According to multiple reports, the Dodgers may be reunited with their former third baseman, Juan Uribe. Uribe, affectionately known in the Dodgers organization as "Papi," has been acquired in a trade with the NY Mets and could be in New York to face the Dodgers on Saturday.
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