After splitting the first two games at Citi Field with the New York Mets, the Los Angeles Dodgers handed the ball to ace Clayton Kershaw in the rubber match. For Kershaw, it was his final start in what’s been a historic month of May.
He turned in 7.2 innings, allowing two runs and collecting 10 strikeouts. One of the runs allowed was charged to Kershaw after he was removed in favor of Adam Liberatore in the eighth inning, as the left-handed reliever promptly allowed a game-tying RBI triple to Curtis Granderson.
The Mets called on closer Jeurys Familia in the ninth inning, only to watch him struggle a second time in the serious. Kiké Hernandez hit a lead off single and with one out, Familia walked Corey Seager and Justin Turner to load the bases.
Adrian Gonzalez‘s at-bat got off to an ominous start as he managed to check his swing on a first-pitch slider insider, but swung and missed on a second straight slider in the same location.
The professional hitter that he is, Gonzalez went on to drive a fastball into center field for a two-run single that gave the Dodgers’ the decided 4-2 lead:
Since returning from lower back tightness, Gonzalez is batting .371/.436/.486 over nine games (eight starts). He was particularly hot during the three-game series with the Mets, going 8-for-13 with one double, one home run and four RBIs.
