Mets make playoff history to take 2-1 series lead
Still reeling from the controversial Chase Utley slide that broke their shortstop's leg, the New York Mets exacted a measure of revenge Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. That it moved them within one game of returning to the National League Championship Series made it that much sweeter.
Curtis Granderson had five RBIs, Matt Harvey tossed five solid innings, and the Mets set a franchise record for runs in a playoff game with their 13-7 thumping of the Dodgers in Game 3.
The victory puts the Mets on the cusp of their first visit to the NLCS since their heart-breaking, seven-game loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006.
Top Performer: Though Granderson doubled twice and matched a team record for RBIs in a postseason game, Travis d'Arnaud and Yoenis Cespedes each collected three hits and homered in the blowout win. Cespedes' 431-foot blast in the fourth inning electrified the crowd at Citi Field - the largest in franchise history (44,276) - and put the game well out of reach behind a solid effort from Harvey.
Starting Pitchers: Harvey was limited to just five innings and 97 pitches because of the Mets' big lead, but the right-handed ace still impressed in his playoff debut. Harvey, whose workload has come under intense scrutiny this season, struck out seven and allowed two earned runs to earn the victory.
Harvey's counterpart, Brett Anderson, fared much worse. Anderson couldn't hold an early 3-0 lead for the Dodgers and was chased from the contest after just three innings.
| PITCHER | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey | 5.0 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Anderson | 3.0 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
Turning Point: With a hobbled Ruben Tejada in attendance and the Mets playing with added emotion, Cespedes' emphatic blast put a nail in the Dodgers' Game 3 fortunes. Immediately following the homer - which put the Mets in front 10-3 - chants of "Utley sucks!" serenaded the crowd in Queens. The moment prompted Cespedes to say the atmosphere at Citi Field was "incredible" and something he's never experienced before.
Up Next: The Mets turn to rookie Steven Matz for a chance to close out the series in New York on Tuesday. The Dodgers will counter with reigning MVP Clayton Kershaw on short rest with their season on the line. Kershaw enters the potential elimination game with a 4.99 ERA in 12 playoff appearances, but an impressive 2.25 mark over the last two years while throwing on three days' rest. First pitch is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. from Citi Field.