The Los Angeles Dodgers (27-24) defeated the New York Mets (28-21) by the final score of 4-2 tonight at Citi Field. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2016_05_29_lanmlb_nynmlb_1#game=2016_05_29_lanmlb_nynmlb_1,game_tab=box,game_state=Wrapup

Game Notes:

• Bartolo Colon pitched a solid game tonight going 6 innings while allowing only 2 runs on 7 hits. He struck out 3 and only walked 1 batter.
• Curtis Granderson was 2-4 with a double and an RBI triple to tie the game in the bottom of the 8th.
• Asdrubal Cabrera was 1-4 with a solo HR.
• Jeurys Familia was hung with the loss tonight giving up a bases loaded 2-run single in the top of the 9th.

It has been a rough couple days for us Mets fans. Last night was a complete disaster and tonight was a heartbreaker, after the Mets rallied in the bottom of the eighth on a Curtis Granderson RBI triple off of Dodgers reliever Mike Liberatore, to tie the game. Jeurys Familia has not looked himself at all in his last two outings, both coming against the Dodgers. Tonight in the top of the ninth, Familia loaded the bases, and then allowed a two run RBI single to Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. It would probably be in Familia’s best interest to take a day or two off as he almost cost the Mets a victory on Friday but ultimately cost them one tonight. I believe fatigue could be the factor as Familia has seen his ERA rise to 4.07 with tonight’s outing. However despite the loss, I loved the Mets fight tonight as they immediately took advantage of the Dodgers pulling Kershaw out of the game and tied it up. With tonight’s loss the Mets drop a game out of first place behind the Washington Nationals.

The Mets will have to put this game in the back of their mind as quickly as possible as they have a matinee game tomorrow afternoon against the Chicago White Sox. The Mets will unpleasantly welcome another Mets killer to Citi Field, as White Sox shortstop Jimmy Rollins will make his 2016 Citi Field debut at some point in this series. With Rollins great career numbers against the Mets, I wouldn’t be surprised in the least bit if he starts all three ball games.  It appears we also won’t see recently acquired James Loney until Tuesday as the Mets will face a left-handed pitcher tomorrow afternoon. The White Sox who had been on top of the AL Central Division for the majority of the season have been struggling recently falling out of first place, and this would be a great series for the Mets to get back on track against a struggling ball club. 

• The Mets and White Sox open their three game series at Citi Field tomorrow with a Memorial Day matinee, with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 pm et. You can watch tomorrow’s game on SNY and ESPN.

• Matt Harvey (3-7, 6.08 ERA) who threw a one-hit shutout against the White Sox back in 2013 will face southpaw Jose Quintana (5-4, 2.22 ERA) who first signed with the Mets as an international free agent out of Colombia back in 2006.

New York Mets (21-12):

1. Curtis Granderson (L) RF
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
3. David Wright (R) 3B
4. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
5. Neil Walker (S) 2B
6. Juan Lagares (R) CF
7. Kevin Plawecki (R) C
8. Eric Campbell (R) 1B
9. Bartolo Colon (R) P

SP: Bartolo Colon RHP (3-1, 2.82 ERA)

Los Angeles Dodgers (17-17):

1. Chase Utley (L) 2B
2. Corey Seager (L) SS
3. Justin Turner (R) 3B
4. Adrian Gonzalez (L) 1B
5. Yasmani Grandal (S) C
6. Joc Pederson (L) CF
7. Yasiel Puig (R) RF
8. Enrique Hernandez (R) LF
9. Clayton Kershaw (L) P

SP: Clayton Kershaw LHP (4-1, 2.04 ERA)

Tonight’s game can be seen on SNY.

Game Notes:

The New York Mets (21-12) defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers (17-17) by the final score of 4-3 tonight at Dodger Stadium. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2016_05_11_nynmlb_lanmlb_1#game=2016_05_11_nynmlb_lanmlb_1,game_tab=box,game_state=Wrapup

Game Notes:

• Noah Syndergaard was a star at the plate tonight going 2-4 with 2 home runs, which included a solo HR, and a 3-run HR.
• Syndergaard pitched a great game on the mound as well, going 8 innings, while only allowing 2 runs on 6 hits. He struck out 6 while only walking 1.
• Michael Conforto appears to be getting out of his funk going 2-5 with 2 base hits.
• Neil Walker was 1-4 with a double in his return to the lineup.
• Yoenis Cespedes was 2-4 with a double.
• Jeurys Familia converted his 12th save of the season but allowed one run to score in the bottom of the ninth.

Noah Syndergaard took over Hollywood tonight on the eve of his anniversary of his major league debut, and had a historic game at the plate to provide himself with all of the run support he would need. Syndergaard took Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda deep twice tonight, hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the third, and then hitting a three-run home run in the top of the fifth. Both of Syndergaard’s home runs were absolute bombs that registered over 400 feet, and they displayed the raw power that Thor possesses with a bat in his hand. Syndergaard joins Walt Terrell as the only Mets pitcher to hit two home runs in a game, and he tied the franchise record for a pitcher with four RBI’s tonight. Syndergaard also delivered on the mound as he mowed through the Dodgers lineup and only made two mistake pitches that hurt him tonight. Syndergaard had surrendered a solo home run to Corey Seager in the bottom of the third, and a solo home run to Yasmani Grandal in the bottom of the fourth, which were his only mistakes. Syndergaard’s fastball was once again registering in the triple digits and he seemed absolutely locked in tonight. It was especially helpful for Syndergaard to pitch deep on a night where the Mets are playing a pitcher short due to Steven Matz’s recent elbow soreness.

Besides Syndergaard’s historic night at the plate the Mets bats could not get much going. The Mets left nine runners on base tonight, and were 1-9 with runners in scoring position. The Mets let a golden opportunity slip leaving the bases loaded in the top of the seventh inning with two outs, and Eric Campbell going down striking out. They also had another opportunity in the top of the fifth with the bases loaded and one out, but both Syndergaard and Curtis Granderson struck out. It’s a good thing Syndergaard was able to take matters into his own hands because he accounted for all of the Mets runs tonight. 

It was not an easy ninth inning for Jeurys Familia as he did not have his best stuff tonight and was struggling to throw strikes. Adrian Gonzalez started the inning of with a hard hit double to center field, but Neil Walker and Asdrubal Cabrera each made absolutely fantastic plays to rob the next two batters of hits to help bail Familia out. Familia’s fortunes then seemed to change as he then made quick work of Yasiel Puig firing three straight strikes to end the ball game. Familia is now 12 for 12 in save opportunities thus far this season and he is a big piece to this team’s success. There is no reason to think that Familia won’t save around fifty ball games for the Mets this season. 

It appears that Mets brass are considering sending Eric Campbell down to AAA for lefty Sean Gilmartin, in order to give the Mets another arm out of the bullpen, when they head to Colorado after tomorrow night’s game. The Mets are going to be playing shorthanded for the next four days until Steven Matz is checked out by a doctor Monday, and the extent of his soreness is medically diagnosed. 

Also one last note Mets fans may be concerned about, Chase Utley was not plunked in any of his four plate appearances, and went 0-4 tonight.

• The Mets look to take the four game series against the Dodgers tomorrow night at Dodger Stadium although it will not be an easy task facing the Dodgers ace. First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 pm et. and can be seen on SNY.

• Bartolo Colon (3-1, 2.82 ERA) will hope to do his best Noah Syndergaard impression on the mound (and maybe the plate) tomorrow evening against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (4-1, 2.02 ERA).

New York Mets (19-11):

1. Curtis Granderson (L) RF
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
3. David Wright (R) 3B
4. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
5. Lucas Duda (L) 1B
6. Juan Lagares (R) CF
7. Wilmer Flores (R) 2B
8. Kevin Plawecki (R) C
9. Steven Matz (R) P

SP: Steven Matz LHP (4-1, 2.83 ERA)

Los Angeles Dodgers (16-15):

1. Enrique Hernandez (R) LF
2. Howie Kendrick (R) 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez (L) 1B
4. Justin Turner (R) 3B
5. Yasiel Puig (R) RF
6. Trayce Thompson (R) CF
7. A.J. Ellis (R) C
8. Charlie Culberson (R) SS
9. Scott Kazmir (L) P

Game Notes: