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Making a Sudden Impact (Dodgers at Mets; 09.15.19)

Robert Cole/ALOST

 

akoiki-passport2 – by Adesina O. Koiki
A Lot of Sports Talk editor-in-chief

 

NEW YORK — Dodgers infielder Jedd Gyorko only appeared during the final two innings of tonight’s contest. As with dominant relievers a number of times, however, he had more of an impact in his team’s victory in those two frames than any other player.

Coming on as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning, Gyorko reached and scored the tying run before driving home the game-winner with a two-out RBI single one inning later as Los Angeles defeated the New York Mets 3-2 to take the rubber match-up at Citi Field. The win marked the eighth time this season the Dodgers won a game that they trailed going into the eighth inning.

The pitcher’s duel between the Mets Zack Wheeler and Dodgers starter Walker Buehler was going the way of Wheeler before he departed after seven innings and to a 2-1 New York lead, giving way to the Mets bullpen — and to the start of Los Angeles’ comeback.

Pinch-hitting for Joc Pederson to start the inning, Gyorko reached on a walk by new pitcher Justin Wilson before advancing to second on a balk and to third on a wild pitch, both by Wilson. Max Muncy struck out before Chris Taylor lined a double to right-centerfield to drive Gyorko in to tie the game at 2-2.

In the top of the ninth, Enrique Hernández reached on a one-out double and, two batters later, Gyorko hit a sharp ground ball past reliever Seth Lugo up the middle with two outs to give the Dodgers their first and only lead.

For the fourth consecutive start, Wheeler game up just one run and, for the second consecutive start, went seven innings. He struck out nine over those seven innings, with a number of the punchouts coming in high-pressure situations.

With the Mets holding on to a 2-1 lead in the sixth, Wheeler game up a lead-off double to Pederson before striking out the heart of the Dodgers order, getting Max Muncy, Chris Taylor and Cody Bellinger to all go down swinging. In the seventh, Wheeler allowed singles to Corey Seager and Gavin Lux to put two men on with one out before striking out both Hernandez and pinch hitter Matt Beaty to preserve New York’s lead.

Though throwing two innings fewer than Wheeler, Buehler once again had a strong start, allowing just two hits. One of those hits, however, was a two-run triple by Mets center fielder Brandon Nimmo in the second that scored Robinson Canó and J.D. Davis to give New York what turned out to be its only runs of the game.

*Editor’s note: Above the byline is the photo gallery from Sunday evening’s game, with all photos taken by ALOST senior photographer Robert Cole. After clicking on the first photo to enlarge the picture, make sure to press the left and right arrow buttons to scroll through the rest of the pictures. There are currently 31 pictures in total.

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