The lingering tension between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets resurfaced in the third inning on Saturday night with Noah Syndergaard throwing behind Chase Utley.
Although warnings had not been issued, Syndergaard was immediately ejected by home plate umpire Adam Hamari. Mets manager Terry Collins came rushing out of the dugout and after arguing with Hamari, he too was ejected.
Logan Verrett took over for the Mets and finished the at-bat by striking out Utley. The veteran infielder dropped to 0-for-2 at that point, with a pair of strikeouts. However, it was Utley who ultimately got the last laugh.
Still hearing the boos that he said he expected, Utley broke a scoreless tie by leading off the sixth inning with a solo home run.
Then with the Dodgers leading 2-0 in the seventh inning, Utley stepped to the plate with one out. He took a first-pitch ball from Mets reliever Hansel Robles, and crushed his second offering over the right-center field for a grand slam, via Dodgers’ Twitter account:
1⃣.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 29, 2016
Entering the series finale on Sunday, Utley is a combined 3-for-7 with one double, two home runs and nine RBIs through the first two games against the Mets at Citi Field. Utley capped off the four-run rally in the ninth inning with a three-run double.