A crazy seventh inning helped the Los Angeles Dodgers overcome an early deficit to beat the New York Mets in Game 2 of their NLDS, 5-2. The series is now tied 1-1 and headed to Citi Field on Monday.
The Mets looked as if they would keep the Dodgers on the ropes, taking an early 2-0 lead on solo home runs by Yoenis Cespedes and Michael Conforto. Between Zack Greinke giving up two laser-shot homers and Mets starter Noah Syndergaard hitting 100 mph on the radar gun, the Dodgers appeared to be in some significant trouble.
But Greinke pulled himself together after getting roughed up, allowing only two more hits over the next five innings and giving the Dodgers a chance to mount a rally. In seven innings, he gave up two runs and five hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.
The Dodgers’ lineup finally showed some life in the fourth inning, scoring a run on consecutive doubles by Justin Turner and Andre Ethier. Yet even though they cut the Mets’ lead in half, Syndergaard still seemed to be in control for the next two innings. That is, until the aforementioned frenzy in the seventh.
Enrique Hernandez drew a one-out walk off Syndergaard, and the Dodgers pinch-hit Chase Utley for Greinke. Hernandez subsequently stole second base and Utley followed with a single, chasing Syndergaard from the game. Bartolo Colon came on in relief for the Mets, and looked as if he might get his team out of trouble by getting Howie Kendrick to hit a groundball to second for a possible double-play.
However, Utley slid hard into second base, upending Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada and preventing him from making a throw to first. That allowed Hernandez to come around and score the tying run. Utley was initially ruled out as Tejada held onto the ball, but the umpires reviewed the call and determined that Tejada’s foot didn’t touch the bag before Utley took him out. (Although replays showed that Utley never touched second base either.)
But the damage was done, and it was significant. Tejada had to be carted off the field with what turned out to be a broken right leg and the Dodgers still had one out remaining in the seventh. With that opportunity, the Dodgers jumped on reliever Addison Reed to finally take the lead.
Utley scored the go-ahead run, as he and Kendrick were driven in by an Adrian Gonzalez double. Turner followed with his second double of the game to score Gonzalez, and the Dodgers had a 5-2 lead that stood up for the final score. Chris Hatcher and Kenley Jansen shut down the Mets with two hitless innings and the NLDS is tied going into Monday’s Game 3.
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 10: Ruben Tejada #11 of the New York Mets is hit by a slide by Chase Utley #26 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh inning in an attempt to turn a double play in game two of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Aside from the final outcome, most of the post-game discussion focused on whether or not Utley’s slide was a dirty play. Not only did Utley slide to the far right of second base, but he began his slide late, almost as he was at the bag. Then there’s the fact that Utley never even touched second base and was ruled safe. Obviously, Tejada’s broken leg made the play look even more questionable.
“Only Chase knows what the intent was,” David Wright told reporters after the game, including the New York Times‘ Tim Rohan. “I have a problem with the play on a number of different levels — one being the slide itself. In my opinion, he wasn’t anywhere near the bag. With that being said, he didn’t even touch the bag.
“You can’t forget about it. One of your teammates has a broken leg. I think that you try to rally around that. You try to go out there and try to get a win or two for Ruben, a guy that sticks his neck out there trying to turn a big double play, knowing he’s going to get hit.”
Wright was seen glaring at the Dodgers’ dugout as Tejada was being helped on the field by trainers and paramedics. So it’s pretty clear the Mets thought Utley made a dirty play. As you might expect, the veteran infielder denied any wrongdoing or vicious intent.
“I feel terrible he was injured,” said Utley in post-game remarks. “I did not intend to hurt him whatsoever. I was just trying to break up the double play. […] I didn’t realize that his back was turned. Everything obviously happens fast. And I tried to break it up.”
That subplot adds further drama to what has now become a competitive series. The Dodgers essentially had to win Game 2 and not waste an effort by one of their two starting pitchers. Going to Citi Field down 0-2 in the series with Brett Anderson starting Game 3 and the Mets countering with Matt Harvey would have been a formidable obstacle to overcome.
Game 3 of the NLDS is set for Monday with an 8:37 p.m. ET start. TBS has the broadcast.
