Rubby De La Rosa could not have asked for a better start to Monday night's game in Dodger Stadium. Staked to a 2-0 lead, he held the Mets hitless through five innings. It looked like it was going to be a big Fourth of July.
Three runs on four hits later, the Mets took the lead in the sixth and didn't look back. The end result was typical: a 5-2 loss for the Dodgers.
This game was a good indication of just how poorly things have gone for the Dodgers this year. Even when they cruised through the opening half of this game, you couldn't help but get the feeling that the tide would somehow turn. Call it pessimistic, but it turned out to be true.
The Dodgers got on the board in the second. Mr. Everything Matt Kemp doubled leading off, once again showing how he's the bright star in a huge dark cloud. Juan Uribe predictably didn't get on, but his grounder did get Kemp to third. Aaron Miles struck out, but James Loney picked him up with an RBI single for the 1-0 lead.
Loney chipped in again in the fourth. Kemp walked leading off, and Uribe actually got a hit for the first time since his San Francisco days with a single. Yes, that was sarcasm, but it sadly seems true. Miles has had a great year, but he again failed with runners on by popping up. Loney lined one just into center for another RBI to make it 2-0.
At this point through five innings, De La Rosa had only walked Carlos Beltran in the fourth with two down. Ruben Tejada took a high breaking ball leading off the sixth for a single into left, and there went the no-hitter. There went the lead as well, as Chris Capuano's sacrifice led to an RBI double by Angel Pagan. After the second out, two straight RBI doubles by Beltran and David Murphy gave the Mets a 3-2 lead.
Instead of fighting back from what was at the time only a one-run deficit, but offense rolled over and played dead, as they went down in order the next three innings. Way to play some inspired baseball, boys.
The Mets took advantage of that in the eighth. Scott Elbert came on and watched Pagan double and then Justin Turner get beaned. He got the next two out to make it runners on the corners with two outs. Don Mattingly brought in Matt Guerrier, who was signed to a big free agent contract this past winter for situations like this. So of course, he gave up two straight RBI singles to Jason Bay and Lucas Duda to run the score to 5-2.
Miles doubled leading off the ninth off of Francisco Rodriguez, but that was it. The newest Dodger Eugenio Velez struck out to end the game. He's the guy who replaced Dee Gordon, who was sent back down to Triple-A. Apparently the Dodgers would much rather watch old, washed up nobodies than young, exciting players. In other words, I'm not at all a fan of Gordon being sent down.
De La Rosa ended up going seven innings for five hits, three runs, one walk, and five strikeouts. He just lost his location big time in the sixth. Still, he's given up only four runs in his last two starts, covering 14 innings. His ERA has gone from 5.26 to 4.31. And of course, he has two losses to show for it thanks to the piss poor Dodger offense.
In addition to the offense, the bullpen was terrible. Elbert got charged with both runs in the eighth, increasing his ERA to 5.26. Maybe he should take another year off. And then another and another. Guerrier has a 4.24 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. Not terrible numbers, but not at all worth the contract he's getting. He's been a disappointment.
When breaking down the numbers in this game, look no further than hitting with runners in scoring position. The Mets went 5-for-10, the Dodgers went 2-for-14. Even for a bad offense, that's pathetic. Loney's two RBI singles were it. Kemp was on base three times. The rest were awful.
The Dodgers had plenty of reasons to feel good about this game. The Mets had to travel across country after playing home yesterday, and they were without Jose Reyes. The Dodgers were only in Anaheim yesterday, and had Rafael Furcal back from his latest injury. But the Mets play with fire and grit, something the Dodgers have barely shown this year. And it's only getting worse.
These teams will go it three more times. On Tuesday, Ted Lilly will get the ball, and he's been horrendous his last three starts. He'll go against Mike Pelfrey.
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