LA Dodgers defeat the NY Mets with 3 straight HR’s as Summer heats up (6/12/07)

June 18, 2007 todd elliot

The LA Dodgers beat the NY Mets on Tuesday, June 12^th at Dodger Stadium with the help of back- to- back- to -back home runs by Wilson Betemit, Matt Kemp and pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo, who flipped his bat ala Reggie Jackson. Kuo also pitched seven strong innings yielding just one run en route to his first win.

Kuo had the Mets off stride the entire night and continued the Mets recent tailspin having lost its 4^th game in a row and 9 out of their last 11. Their first place lead has shrunk as the hitting and pitching has come unglued lately. #1 starter Jon Maine gave up the 3 consecutive home runs on 3 straight pitches that turned a 1 run deficit by LA into a 3 run lead by the Dodgers which they never relinquished. Jose Reyes and Shawn Green (both pictured below) have had a good year so far for the Mets that lost in last years playoffs to the eventual World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.

Reliable closer Takashi Saito returned and got his 18^th save of the year pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning. The Dodgers missed him badly on their last trip to San Diego when they were swept. The Dodgers will go for the series sweep on Wednesday with Brad Penny starting before hosting the Angels at Chavez Ravine over the weekend. Penny has been pitching like an all star again and is second only to the Padre’s Jake Peavy as the top pitcher in the league so far. The Dodgers have recalled James Loney from Triple A to play some outfield and provide an occasional night off for Nomar Garciaparra at first base. Garciaparra only recently returned to the lineup after suffering from fatigue and went 1-3. He has been slumping lately and has only one home run all season.

Russell Martin, who is now leading all National League Catchers in All Star balloting, has been leading the Dodger offense along with Rafael Furcal and Luis Gonzalez but the pitching and defense has kept them near first place the whole season as the summer heats up. More information, schedule and tickets at www.ladodgers.com