The New York Mets were supposed to compete on the same level as the Los Angeles Dodgers when Steve Cohen bought them, but that has been far from the case this year. The Dodgers bullpen outmatched the offense, and Taijuan Walker could not rekindle his success from last week in the 4-1 loss.
.@JDDavis26 doubles home Pete to get us on the board. #LGM pic.twitter.com/fkzmJQIji9
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 20, 2021
Walker battled through six-inning, allowing four runs, and struck out four batters. His velocity was great as he hit 97 mph on multiple occasions but ran into trouble navigating the elite Dodgers lineup. Will Smith continued to torture the Mets as his second-inning double set up a second and third situation with no one out. Smith and Seager both ended up scoring on a ground out to get an early 2-0 lead. In the fifth, familiar faces Billy McKinney and Trea Turner took care of the final two runs. McKinney doubled to the left-center gap, and Turner’s seeing-eye single snuck by a shifted Jeff McNeil.
The More The MerrierĂ‚Â
Manager Dave Roberts threw the gauntlet by using seven different pitchers in the bullpen game. They did a terrific job shutting down the offense all night. The Mets were held to just one run and the same amount of extra-base hits. J.D. Davis was responsible for both as his RBI double was the only tally they had on the night. Blake Treinen was dominant as ever in the ninth by striking out the side to complete the save.
The loss is the sixth in the last seven games and puts them five games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves. Carlos Carrasco will take the mound against Walker Buehler as the Mets look to beat the Dodgers. The first pitch from Dodger Stadium is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET.