Mets Prevail in Back-and-Forth Affair With Dodgers

Brett Baty (22) of the New York Mets hits a one run base hit during the fourth inning to score Jeff McNeil (1) against starting pitcher Dustin May (85) of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 17, 2023. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Daniel Vogelbach hit a home run and drove in three runs as the visiting New York Mets ran their winning streak to five games by rallying for an 8–6 victory Monday, April 17, over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Brett Baty had an RBI single in his season debut as the Mets opened their 10-game West Coast road trip with four consecutive victories. Left-hander David Peterson (1–2) earned the victory despite giving up six runs on seven hits over six innings.

In a back-and-forth game, the Mets went ahead for good in the seventh inning when they loaded the bases with nobody out against Dodgers left-hander Alex Vesia (0–2) and scored on a balk, a groundout and an RBI single from Pete Alonso. It was one of three hits for Alonso.

Freddie Freeman hit two home runs for the Dodgers and had three hits. Max Muncy added a homer for Los Angeles, while Austin Wynns drove in a pair of runs in his club debut. A favorite in the National League West, the Dodgers dropped to 8–9 on the season.

Dodgers right-hander Dustin May gave up five runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings with no walks and one strikeout. It was the first time May has given up more than two runs in an outing this season.

The Dodgers opened the scoring in the first inning when Freeman homered. Vogelbach answered for the Mets in the second inning with a two-run home run, one batter after Mark Canha singled.

Freddie Freeman (5) of the Los Angeles Dodgers runs the bases after hitting a one run home run during the first inning against starting pitcher David Peterson (23) of the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 17, 2023. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

The Dodgers pushed in front 3-2 in their half of the second on Wynns’ two-run double. He was signed Sunday after catcher Will Smith was placed on the concussion injured list.

The Mets took a 5-3 lead in the fourth inning on an RBI single from Jeff McNeil, an RBI groundout from Vogelbach and Baty’s RBI single. Baty, a top New York prospect, was recalled Monday to take over at third base for a struggling Eduardo Escobar.

The Dodgers got even in the fifth on Freeman’s second home run, a two-run shot to left-center field. It was Freeman’s 18th career multi-homer game and first in two seasons with the Dodgers.

Mets right-hander Adam Ottavino earned the save, his second of the season.