Dodgers 3 - 7 Mets
Final/10
  for this game

Valdespin's slam in the 10th gets Mets past Dodgers

Apr 25, 2013 - 5:43 AM Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Jordany Valdespin hit a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning and the New York Mets outlasted the Los Angeles Dodgers, 7-3, on Wednesday at Citi Field in the second of a three-game test.

Josh Wall (0-1) got into trouble immediately, serving up a leadoff single to John Buck, then walking Ike Davis. Marlon Byrd sacrificed both into scoring position, then Lucas Duda drew a base on balls which preceded Valdespin's crucial first homer of the season.

"I wasn't thinking about hitting a home run, I was just trying to hit the ball well," Valdespin said.

It made a winner of Bobby Parnell (1-0), who picked up the victory with a scoreless top of the 10th.

David Wright tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with an RBI single, while Justin Turner had an RBI sacrifice fly for the Mets, who have won two of three.

In a pitching battle which slated an old veteran against an up and coming right-hander, both Ted Lilly and Matt Harvey didn't disappoint.

Lilly made his season debut and allowed just one run on six hits while striking out seven over five innings. The lefty is helping out an injury- riddled Dodgers pitching staff which is without Zach Greinke and Chad Billingsley, who's season came to end this week after the team announced he will undergo Tommy John surgery.

Harvey, who was looking to become the first Met to win his first five starts in seven years, gave up three runs on four hits and struck out seven over six innings of work.

Matt Kemp hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot, and finished with three RBI for the Dodgers, who registered just four hits. Brandon League was charged with a blown save.

"We have to score more runs," Kemp said.

Facing League in the bottom of the ninth, Mike Baxter knocked a bloop into left that he legged out into a double. Ruben Tejada laid down a sac bunt back to the pitcher to advance Baxter to third, but Daniel Murphy then fouled out the third baseman Jerry Hairston, who made a spectacular leaping catch along the edge of the visiting side railing. Wright came through just one pitch later.

With the game tied at 1-1 in the sixth, Adrian Gonzalez drew a walk with two down. Kemp, who had failed to hit a home run in 78 previous at-bats this season, drilled Harvey's 2-0 pitch just over the right field wall which made it 3-1.

The Mets, though, got one run back in the bottom half of the frame. J.P. Howell relieved Lilly and started off the inning with consecutive walks to Byrd and Duda. Ronald Belisario then took the hill for the Dodgers after Juan Lagares moved runners to second and third. Turner, who was pinch-hitting for Harvey, hit a sacrifice fly to center to make it 3-2.

The visitors jumped on Harvey in the first inning. Gonzalez's single to right advanced Mark Ellis to third and Kemp hit a fielders choice to short to give the Dodgers a 1-0 edge.

Harvey helped out his own cause with a lead-off double to left in the fifth. Tejada then roped a single to right scoring Harvey to tie the game at 1-1.

Game Notes

Harvey was looking to join Dwight Gooden (1988) and Pedro Martinez (2006) as the only Mets pitchers to go 5-0 or better in the month of April ... Harvey now has 39 strikeouts over 35 innings this season ... It was Lilly's first appearance since May 23 after recovering from shoulder surgery.






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