The Dodgers clinched another series win against the Mets at Citi Field on Saturday, a victory aided significantly by the Mets' defensive errors. Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched six innings, allowing one run, while Kyle Tucker opened the scoring in the third inning with a home run.
Mets' miscues in the third inning provided the Dodgers with breathing room. After Dalton Rushing singled, a ground ball from Shohei Ohtani was mishandled by first baseman Brett Baty, whose throw to second base struck a runner, allowing Rushing to advance. Andy Pages then hit another ground ball to Baty, who completed his throw to second. However, the return throw to first was missed by pitcher Nolan McLean, allowing a run to score and prolonging the inning. Later in the same inning, catcher Francisco Alvarez dropped a pitch, allowing another run to score and extend the Dodgers' lead to 3-0.
These additional runs proved crucial as the Dodgers' bullpen nearly allowed a comeback. After Pages and Bo Bichette traded RBI singles in the fifth to make it 4-1, the Mets threatened in the eighth. Reliever Edgardo Henriquez hit a batter and walked another, before Tanner Scott gave up a two-run double to pinch-hitter Tyrone Taylor, narrowing the Dodgers' lead to 4-3.
Scott managed to strike out AJ Ewing to end the eighth, and Brock Stewart secured his first save of the season in the ninth, preserving the Dodgers' victory.
With this win, the Dodgers (67-38) have won three consecutive series since the All-Star break and will aim for a series sweep on Sunday, potentially finishing their nine-game road trip with a 7-2 record.
Tucker has shown a resurgence in power during this series, hitting home runs in consecutive games for the first time this season. This follows a stretch where he had only seven home runs through April 19. "There’s some times where I like to see the ball coming in, put a swing on it, and I can visualize the ball coming off the bat and doing what I want with it, but it doesn’t really go that way, which is a little frustrating," Tucker said Friday about his earlier power struggles. "But at the same time, I just gotta battle for the next pitch and just continue on with the at-bat."
On the other hand, Henriquez has struggled with command recently, issuing seven walks and hitting a batter in his last seven appearances after a strong June. His season ERA remains 2.81.
The Dodgers are scheduled to conclude their road trip on Sunday with Emmet Sheehan (4-7, 5.13 ERA) facing Mets' right-hander Freddy Peralta (5-9, 5.01 ERA).