What has been an inconsistent Los Angeles Dodgers lineup this season put on a power display but it was not enough in an 8-6 loss to the New York Mets, who extended their winning streak to five games.
The defeat dropped the Dodgers to below .500 for the first time this season.
Freddie Freeman was coming off a four-strikeout game and mired in a 4-for-28 skid heading into the series opener but broke out of that with his 18th career multi-homer effort. It was Freeman’s first game with at least two home runs since signing with the Dodgers.
The results further validated Freeman’s confidence that sticking to his routine that has been plenty successful throughout an All-Star career would again amount to expected results.
Similarly, Max Muncy continued to benefit from incorporating last season’s change of taking a step back as a pitch is being delivered. He went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the sixth inning that gave the Dodgers a lead.
Muncy’s six home runs since April 10 are most among all players in the Majors.
Unfortunately for the Dodgers, the night went downhill after Muncy slugged their third home run of the game.
Dodgers bullpen woes
Dustin May had better command than in his last start, but still allowed five runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings. He exited with a runner on second base, who Alex Vesia stranded.
However, sticking with Vesia for the seventh inning backfired. The Mets loaded the bases on three consecutive singles, which prompted Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to call on Phil Bickford.
Bickford balked the tying run in before he could throw a single pitch, and allowed two more runs that allowed the Mets to take a decided lead.
The high-leverage situation figured to be one prime for Evan Phillips, but the Dodgers have indicated there is a preference in saving him for the ninth inning. Even if the right-hander has not explicitly been named the Dodgers’ closer.
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