The Los Angeles Dodgers took the field Tuesday night against the New York Mets an abysmal 4-9 at home this season. Their record at Dodger Stadium equated to the worst 14-game (5-9) start at home since 2006, when that club also opened 4-9; the 2006 Dodgers won their 15th home game.
Los Angeles had several of their regulars in the lineup for the second of the four-game series. New York started right-hander Jacob deGrom, who entered a career 0-2 against the Dodgers, but did come away with wins in Games 1 and 2 of the 2015 National League Division Series.
While Yasiel Puig made a second consecutive start, he was batting seventh in the lineup for the first time this season. Puig is among those who have been mired in a prolonged slump, which has correlated to the Dodgers’ .500 record.
Despite Puig’s struggles at the plate, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Tuesday his 25-year-old outfielder has played Gold-Glove caliber defense this season.
Puig’s laundry list of impressive plays includes throwing out Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story at third base from over 300 feet away. Puig has also thrown out former teammate Darwin Barney on his attempt to stretch a single to a double, and robbed Mets center fielder Juan Lagares of a likely extra-base hit on Monday.
Lagares was the victim of another highlight play from Puig on Tuesday, as he made a diving catch for the first out of the game:
