LOS ANGELES (AP) — Walker Buehler pitched two-run ball into the eighth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Mets 3-2 Friday night for their eighth straight win.
Buehler (13-2) struck out eight and allowed six hits over 7 2/3 innings as Los Angeles improved to 5-0 against the Mets over the past eight days, including a three-game sweep in New York last weekend.
Trea Turner had two hits and two runs. It was the fourth multi-hit game for Turner over his last five starts.
“It’s just that added layer of dynamic,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said about Turner. “... When you’re not putting a lot of hits together or slug and you still find ways to score runs, he’s a big part of that.”
Pete Alonso hit his 27th home run and had an RBI infield single in the eighth, but the Mets lost for the seventh time in their last eight games. The rough spell has come at the start of a 13-game stretch against the San Francisco Giants and Dodgers, the teams with the two best records in baseball.
The Dodgers got off to a fast start as Turner doubled before going to third base on a fly ball from Max Muncy. He scored on Justin Turner’s groundout to shortstop three batters into the game.
Trea Turner started another Dodgers scoring opportunity in the third inning. His one-out single to center was followed by Muncy’s RBI double to right. After Justin Turner walked, Corey Seager rolled an RBI single to center for a 3-0 advantage.
Buehler had given up just a single while hitting a batter through the first three innings before Alonso ripped a line-drive home run to right-center to cut the Dodgers’ advantage to 3-1.
The Mets closed within a run in the eighth. Patrick Mazeika led off with a single against Buehler and Brandon Nimmo followed with a one-out single. The runners moved to second and third on Buehler’s wild pitch before Jeff McNeil struck out looking on a pitch that appeared to be inside.
“After we looked it, we saw the pitch was off, so it was a good take by McNeil," Mets manager Luis Rojas said. "But it was a called strike three, right, so we get nothing out of it. It ends up being a really good at-bat by him.”
Mazeika was able to score and cut the deficit to 3-2 on a slow dribbler halfway down the third-base line by Alonso. Buehler was removed from the game by Roberts and was ejected from the game by home-plate umpire Nestor Ceja as he left the field.
“It was just a little frustrating there at the end and he told me to stop and I didn’t stop,” Buehler said about the ejection. “I get what he did, and that’s his job, but at the end of the day just try to be competitive and get out of there and I just thought (the ball) hit (Alonso’s) foot.”
After Michael Conforto walked to load the bases against Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia, the left-hander struck out J.D. Davis looking to end the threat.
Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 26th save.
Buehler gave up six hits with no walks and eight strikeouts, ending his run of allowing one run or less at five consecutive starts. Buehler’s only two loses this season have come when the Dodgers failed to score a run, including a game on June 24 when four Chicago Cubs pitchers combined on a no-hitter.
“I want us to win games and win the division and get to the playoffs and do what we did last year,” Buehler said when the subject of a potential National League Cy Young Award was broached. “If I somehow have the type of year to be in that conversation, that’s great, but at the end of the day it’s about winning games.”
Mets starter Carlos Carrasco (0-2) gave up three runs on five hits over five innings with one walk and six strikeouts. It was a vast improvement on his start against the Dodgers on Sunday night when he gave up six runs and three home runs in just two innings of work.
“Before this start I worked so hard on my mechanics,” Carrasco said. “My arm pretty much in the last one was short glove side. It was a big difference today. My changeup was really good.”
The Dodgers also have won 12 of their last 13 to move 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Giants, the first time they have been inside of two games back since July 20.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: Infielders Francisco Lindor (oblique) and Javier Baez (back) each faced live pitching, with manager Luis Rojas saying the club is still trying to see if one or both might be activated off the IL this weekend. ... C James McCann was placed on the IL because of back spasms, retroactive to Tuesday, while right-hander Geoff Hartlieb was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse. ... RHP Noah Syndergaard (elbow) was moved to the 60-day IL to open roster space in order to add right-hander Heath Hembree off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds. Syndergaard, who was out at least until September anyway, is not eligible to return Sept. 13 and his recovery timeline is unchanged.
Dodgers: OF Mookie Betts, on the IL with hip inflammation, took swings in the batting cage, participated in outfield drills and is scheduled to participate in a simulated game Sunday or Monday. ... RHP Joe Kelly, on the IL with no specified injury, faced three batters in a rehab assignment at Class A Rancho Cucamonga and walked two of those batters.
UP NEXT
Mets LHP Rich Hill (6-4, 4.08) will make his first start against his former team since leaving the organization after the 2019 season. Dodgers RHP Max Scherzer (10-4, 2.69) will make his fourth start with his new club and second consecutive against the Mets after earning the victory Sunday at New York.
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