Final
Mets-Dodgers Preview
Jul 4, 2015 - 6:46 AM While Zack Greinke's scoreless innings streak from his last three starts is on the doorstep of establishing a new single-season best, Matt Harvey's last three haven't been all that far off the pace of MLB's ERA leader.The standout right-handers meet Saturday night in Los Angeles for an encore to Friday's duel with the New York Mets seeking a series win over the Dodgers.
After limiting Miami to four hits in 7 2-3 innings of Sunday's 2-0 road win, Greinke (6-2, 1.58 ERA) hasn't allowed a run in 20 2-3 innings. It's his third-longest single-season streak and 3 1-3 shy of matching his top run to begin 2009 with Kansas City, though that run reached 38 innings when including the end of 2008. He's an out away from tying his Dodgers high from July 2013.
Somehow, it was his first win in 10 starts, which his manager contrasted with Clayton Kershaw's 2014 brilliance when the lineup did its part for the eventual NL MVP.
"Every outing he's really, really good," Don Mattingly told MLB's official website. "Probably the reason Clayton's (season) ended up being totally historic is that everything we needed to happen did last year. If we needed three runs, we got three. If we needed two, we got two. So Zack just hasn't had that same thing, but he's pitched really, really well every time out."
Greinke is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in his last three starts against the Mets, and he's gone six straight home starts without allowing more than a run. Lucas Duda is 3 for 7 with a home run against him.
Harvey (7-5, 2.99 ERA) seems to be over any bouts with first-half inconsistency. He gave up four hits and an unearned run in six innings of last Saturday's 2-1 win over Cincinnati but was denied the decision. Harvey is 1-1 with one earned run allowed in 19 2-3 innings over his last three outings.
"I'm just trying to go out every time and do the best I can to put up zeros," Harvey said. "I know there was a rough patch there. To stay mentally focused now is definitely helping. There are some days I don't feel as great as I normally would. That's part of the rehab process. But we're finding ways to get through."
Whether he can pull such numbers off against the Dodgers remains in question. He's 0-1 with a 5.25 ERA in two starts in the series.
The Mets (41-40) won 2-1 Friday to end a three-game losing streak with their pitching continuing in top form. The staff has a 1.38 ERA in the last eight games, but their hitting struggles remain.
They've scored three runs while batting .165 in four games, and it hasn't been very much better over a 5-10 span with 1.7 runs per game and a .178 average. Michael Cuddyer is 2 for 29 in 10 contests, Juan Lagares is 3 for 38 in 12 and Duda is 8 for 56 in 15. Cuddyer pinch hit Friday but has been out of the lineup for three games because of a knee injury.
Another win would give New York its first three-game road winning streak of the season after losing its previous seven. Its 12-26 road record is better than only Philadelphia.
The Dodgers (45-36) have still won 13 of 17 over New York, but they're not exactly cashing in on home-field advantage like they were earlier in the year. They started an MLB-best 21-6 but are 6-8 since.
Adrian Gonzalez has homered in consecutive home games, but he's batting .146 in his last 11 at Dodger Stadium. Yasiel Puig is in a 3-for-20 slump.
- NEW YORK: 3
LOS ANGELES: 4
Final
Jul 4 10:40 PM - Lagares hit a sacrifice fly to right fielder Puig, Tejada scored.
Mets 3, Dodgers 4 Top 9, 2 OutsJul 4 10:35 PM - Juan Lagares out on a sacrifice fly to right field to Yasiel Puig. Ruben Tejada scores.
Mets 3, Dodgers 4 Top 9, 1 OutJul 4 10:35 PM - W.Flores singled to left, Dan.Murphy scored, Duda to third.
Mets 2, Dodgers 4 Top 8, 2 OutsJul 4 10:09 PM - Wilmer Flores singles to left field. Lucas Duda to third. Daniel Murphy scores.
Mets 2, Dodgers 4 Top 8, 2 OutsJul 4 10:09 PM - Duda doubled to center, Lagares scored, Dan.Murphy to third.
Mets 1, Dodgers 4 Top 8, 2 OutsJul 4 10:05 PM - Lucas Duda doubles to center field. Daniel Murphy to third. Juan Lagares scores.
Mets 1, Dodgers 4 Top 8, 2 OutsJul 4 10:04 PM - Callaspo singled to center, Grandal scored, Ethier to third.
Mets 0, Dodgers 4 Bot 7, 1 OutJul 4 9:44 PM - Alberto Callaspo singles to second base. Andre Ethier to third. Yasmani Grandal scores.
Mets 0, Dodgers 4 Bot 7, 1 OutJul 4 9:43 PM - Callaspo singled to right, Grandal scored, Ethier to third.
Mets 0, Dodgers 3 Bot 5, 2 OutsJul 4 9:01 PM - Alberto Callaspo singles to right field. Andre Ethier to third. Yasmani Grandal scores.
Mets 0, Dodgers 3 Bot 5, 2 OutsJul 4 9:01 PM - Rollins grounded out to first baseman Duda unassisted, Puig scored, Ethier to third, Callaspo to second.
Mets 0, Dodgers 1 Bot 2, 2 OutsJul 4 7:54 PM - Jimmy Rollins grounds out to first base to Lucas Duda. Alberto Callaspo to second. Andre Ethier to third. Yasiel Puig scores.
Mets 0, Dodgers 1 Bot 2, 2 OutsJul 4 7:54 PM - Curtis Granderson singles to left center field.
Jul 4 7:17 PM - NEW YORK: 0
LOS ANGELES: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jul 4 7:16 PM
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