The Dodgers abused Mets pitching for 17 hits and nine walks, and won easily in Citi Field, 11-2. A four-run first inning was more than enough to claim this one.
Mets starter Livan Hernandez was just awful, and certainly did nothing to build on the slight momentum they had from winning the night before. The first hitter of the game, Rafael Furcal, hit a ground rule double that was a sign of things to come.
Andre Ethier followed with a single for two on. Manny Ramirez then singled to score Furcal, and the rout was on. A walk to James Loney an out later put the bases loaded. Orlando Hudson, hitting seventh in the order because of a huge slump, cleared the bases with a double, and it was 4-0.
Gary Sheffield gave the Mets some hope with an RBI single in the bottom of the first, but that was it. Consecutive RBI singles by Manny and Blake in the second pushed it to 6-1, and already the game was out of reach.
Randy Wolf did something interesting before the game - he switched his number from 21 to 43, his old Phillies number. Coming into the game with a whopping 12 no-decisions, his strategy certainly worked.
On the night, Wolf went 6 and 1/3 innings pitched, seven hits, two runs, two walks, and three strikeouts. More importantly, for the first time since May 28 in Chicago against the Cubs, he earned a win.
After the Mets cut it to 6-2 in the third, the Dodgers got two more back in the fourth. This time, it was Russell Martin who had a big hit with two outs. His single scored two, and it was 8-2.
Three more runs were tacked on in the eighth, which came from a two-run single by Juan Castro and an RBI single by Matt Kemp. That came off the lethal Tim Redding. Seriously, why is still pitching in the majors? It's hard to watch.
The funny thing about this game is that the Dodgers left even more men on this game compared to last (13 to 12). But, when you have 27 men reach base, you're bound to leave some on. It was a complete onslaught, and all without the benefit of the home run.
It's a good thing the Dodgers keep winning series, because the Giants and Rockies certainly aren't making winning the NL West a cakewalk like it once was. To still have a seven game lead on the Giants and eight on the Rockies is a big accomplishment considering how well those teams have been performing.
The Dodgers are now off to Milwaukee for three. Chad Billingsley had a five-run lead in the ninth inning against the Padres last outing... and then somehow came out of it with a no-decision. So, once again, he'll be looking for his 10th win.
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