The New York Mets defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-2 on Saturday, thanks in part to a go-ahead double from Juan Soto. This hit marked a turning point for Soto, who had been struggling at the plate.
Soto’s Performance
- Soto’s double was his first extra-base hit since May 9.
- He is now six for six this season with runners in scoring position.
- Prior to Saturday’s game, Soto was hitting .241 with a .792 OPS, significantly below his career averages.
Manager Carlos Mendoza attributed Soto’s struggles to bad luck, stating, "I think it’s just bad luck. He’ll get back on track." Mendoza expressed confidence in Soto’s eventual return to form, citing impressive underlying statistics such as high exit velocities and hard-hitting percentages.
Lineup Adjustments
- Mendoza moved Soto down from second in the batting order earlier this week but has kept him in the third spot for three games, indicating he still believes Soto can produce results from this position.
Game Highlights
- With Saturday’s win, the Mets solidified their position in the division standings, moving into second place behind Atlanta with 30 games remaining before they play each other again next month.
- This victory also marked the Mets’ first series win over the Dodgers since July 2021 and improved their record against teams above .500 to 7-6.
Key Contributions
- In addition to Soto’s go-ahead double off Clayton Kershaw (4-3), Pete Alonso homered off reliever Evan Phillips (0-1), and Brandon Nimmo added two RBIs.
- The Mets improved their major league-best road record against NL West teams to 14-8.
Dodgers’ Efforts
- Los Angeles’ Justin Turner tied the game with an RBI single off Max Scherzer (5-2) but did not score again after getting runners into scoring position twice.
- Kershaw allowed four runs over five innings while striking out eight batters.
Bullpen Performance
- New York used five relievers, including closer David Robertson, who earned his ninth save of the season despite allowing two baserunners before retiring Turner on a fly ball.
- Robertson struck out both Freddie Freeman and Will Smith before facing Turner.
Dodgers’ Closer Strategy
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts mentioned he would consider using closer Craig Kimbrel more often, citing concerns about the strain of pitching multiple innings on Kimbrel’s elbow, which is still recovering from Tommy John surgery last year.
- "We’re trying not just one guy," Roberts said regarding plans for more frequent use of Kimbrel.
- He noted that pitchers like Chris Martin or Victor González would be used more often if they can pitch effectively without excessive strain.
Chris Martin pitched well, throwing strikes all night, while González pitched two scoreless innings, striking out three batters, including pinch hitter Trayce Thompson.
Robertson ultimately closed out the game, securing the win for the Mets.
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