Greinke's scoreless streak ends at 45 2/3 innings, Mets win in 10
Thanks to another exquisite performance from Jacob deGrom and a big hit by newcomer Juan Uribe, the New York Mets did more than just stop Zack Greinke's streak.
Greinke's shutout string ended at 45 2/3 innings when the Mets scored the first of two scratch runs against him, and New York defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 Sunday on Uribe's game-winning single off the wall in the 10th.
"How it didn't get out, I have no idea. That ball was mashed," New York manager Terry Collins said. "That's why we got him. Those are the things he's going to bring to this team."
The hard-throwing deGrom outpitched Greinke in a marquee matchup that lived up to its billing, but Yasmani Grandal hit a tying single in the ninth as Los Angeles erased a two-run deficit against closer Jeurys Familia, who was trying for a four-out save.
Greinke allowed a run in the third on an RBI grounder by deGrom and another in the sixth when rookie Michael Conforto was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The right-hander's scoreless streak was the longest in the majors since Orel Hershiser set the big-league record with 59 for the Dodgers in 1988.
"I think everyone appreciates that. Maybe it will get broken. Five years ago or so, I thought that one and (Joe) DiMaggio's (56-game hitting) streak were the two toughest. But it looks like people are getting closer to the Hershiser one now. So maybe eventually it might happen," Greinke said, acknowledging he won't miss all the attention generated by his pursuit of Hershiser's mark.
One day after a mild Mets lineup broke loose for 15 runs and 21 hits, this one was a tight duel between NL All-Stars who entered with the two lowest ERAs in the league.
New York gained a four-game series split and moved within two games of first-place Washington after going 4-6 during a tough stretch against NL division leaders.
"Whenever I found out (Greinke) was throwing this game, I was excited," deGrom said. "I knew it would be fun and it probably would be a pitchers' duel, and I was looking forward to that."
Curtis Granderson hustled for a leadoff double against Juan Nicasio (1-3) in the 10th. Kenley Jansen relieved with one out and Uribe, acquired late Friday night in a trade with Atlanta, launched an 0-2 pitch off the left-center fence to beat his former team. Los Angeles traded Uribe to the Braves earlier this season.
Uribe, who entered as a pinch hitter in the eighth, raised his arms in glee and was swarmed by his new teammates between first and second.
Jenrry Mejia (1-0) pitched out of trouble in the top of the 10th. With a runner on third, he struck out rookie slugger Joc Pederson and retired Howie Kendrick to keep it tied.
Neither team managed an extra-base hit until Adrian Gonzalez and ex-Met Justin Turner delivered consecutive doubles with one out in the ninth. Grandal then grounded a sharp single inside third base past a diving Uribe.
Last season's NL Rookie of the Year, deGrom yielded only two singles and struck out eight in 7 2/3 scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 2.05. After throwing 113 pitches, he walked off to a standing ovation from the crowd of 36,093 and touched the bill of his cap.
Greinke gave up just four singles in seven innings but left trailing 2-0. The right-hander had not permitted a run in seven starts since June 13 at San Diego. He did allow a leadoff homer to AL MVP Mike Trout in the All-Star Game on July 14.
Greinke originally was scheduled to pitch Friday, but went to Los Angeles to be with his wife Thursday night for the birth of their first child, Bode Nicholas. Greinke, who leads the majors with a 1.37 ERA, rejoined the team this weekend.
"Surprisingly, it wasn't as distracting as you would think," he said. "Flying back and forth cross-country wasn't too bad. I felt strong today. I started off really well and got worse. You would think if there was an effect on me, I would've started off bad and gotten better."
NOT THE SAME GUY
Familia, left out of the All-Star Game despite dominant numbers, has squandered both his save opportunities since the break. It was his fourth blown save in 31 chances this year — but the Mets have won all four of those games. He gave up multiple runs in an outing for the first time since last September against Miami. "I'm not tired," Familia said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: Scott Van Slyke (stiff neck) came off the bench to play left field in the ninth. The outfielder hit his head on the partition while riding in a taxi that stopped short Saturday, but manager Don Mattingly didn't think Van Slyke did any serious damage to his brain. "Van Slyke — you can't really tell," Mattingly joked.
Mets: C Travis d'Arnaud (elbow sprain) singled twice in five at-bats as the designated hitter for Double-A Binghamton in his second rehab game.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: After a day off, LHP Brett Anderson (5-5, 3.33 ERA) is scheduled to face his former team Tuesday night in an interleague home game against Oakland ace Sonny Gray (10-4, 2.30).
Mets: Rookie RHP Noah Syndergaard (4-5, 2.97 ERA) pitches against Padres RHP James Shields (8-3, 3.77) in the opener of a three-game series Tuesday night.
