LA Dodgers beat the NY Mets and have the best record in baseball (5/09)

On May 19, 2009 the Dodgers beat the Mets in what seemed to be a pre-season game by the New York Mets. There were 5 errors, a pickoff, a running mistake and possible coaching errors. The Dodgers beat the Mets 5-3 capitalizing on the Mets mistakes. It was Casey Blake “bobblehead day” at Dodger Stadium as he also hit a 3-run homerun in the sixth inning to give the Dodgers the advantage after being down 3-2.

Left Fielder for the Mets, Daniel Murphy, dropped a Juan Pierre line drive leading to the first run of the game in top of the first inning for the Dodgers. There was a shallow liner hit right at him, he had to take maybe five steps to get to it before it dropped to the ground. In the end of the first Murphy was picked off at first base. David Wright made a baserunning mistake after a hit later in the game and killed a rally as he got tagged out between first and second after driving in a run.

Both pitchers had offensive RBI’s. John Main had a 2-run single for the Mets in the second inning. The first three innings were pitched by the Dodgers Billingsley with a lack of control followed by 3 and a 1/3 innings of shutting the Mets down. Billingsley also had a double to score Blake and the Dodgers second run in the 4th inning leaving the Dodgers behind 3-2.  Billingsley got the win aided by Blake’s HR to improve to 6-1. Jonathon Broxton closed out the game for his 10th save.

Orlando Hudson bruised his shoulder in the seventh inning diving for a blooper into right field and was removed from the game. His status will be determined tomorrow.  The Mets loaded the bases that inning but couldn’t score. The Mets also had an opportunity in the 8th inning but Ramon Martinez grounded into a double play. This was a big blunder by Mets Manager Jerry Manuel as he had Gary Sheffield, Fernando Tatis and Luis Castillo who could have pinch hit for Martinez with Beltran and Wright on base with one out and down by a run.  Martinez was overmatched in his first three at bats striking out three times in a row as he was just called up from Triple A.

The Dodgers now have the best record in the Major League 28-13 (15 games above .500). The Mets were hot winning 11 of their last 13 until recently losing 3 in a row (two to the Dodgers).  More info/schedule and tickets at www.dodgers.mlb.com