Mets 4, Dodgers 2
LOS ANGELES -- New York Mets right-hander Steven Matz was the hero on the mound and with the bat on Monday at Dodger Stadium, with his fifth straight win and an RBI double that helped the Mets to a 4-2 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With two out and one on in the sixth and the Mets leading 3-2, Kevin Plawecki hit a grounder to second baseman Howie Kendrick, who bobbled the ball and fell over, allowing Plawecki to reach safely. Kendrick's costly error set the table for Matz, who doubled to left field to score Flores from second.
Matz (5-1) went six innings in the win, giving up two runs on two hits, striking out five and one.
The Dodgers' best chance to tie came in the eighth inning when they put two runners on with one out. But Jim Henderson struck out Yasiel Puig and Trayce Thompson popped out in foul territory.
Jeurys Familiar retired the side in order in the ninth to earn the save, his 11th, which ties him for first in the majors.
Left-hander Scott Kazmir (2-3) pitched 5 2/3 innings for the Dodgers, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits, striking out six and walking four. He was chased from the game after Matz's double. It was the fourth time this season he's failed to pitch six full innings.
Kazmir got into trouble early when Curtis Granderson drove the first pitch of the game into the right-field stands and Kevin Plaweki made it 2-0 in the second inning with another solo home run.
The Mets pushed one across the plate in the third inning and had the bases loaded with one out, but Enrique Hernandez doubled off Lucas Duda at second base for a 7-4, inning-ending double play.
The Dodgers got on the board in the fourth inning when Thompson's line drive stayed fair and cleared the fences for a two-run home run, cutting the Mets' lead to 2-3 and ending Matz's scoreless-inning streak at 17 1/3.
A.J. Ellis then kept the inning alive with a single up the middle and Charlie Culberson reached first on an infield single when New York second baseman Wilmer Flores failed to field the ball cleanly and pulled Duda off the first base bag.
But with runners on the corners, Kazmir then struck out to end the inning and end the threat.
NOTES: The Dodgers optioned RHP Casey Fien to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Fien was claimed off waivers from Minnesota on Saturday. ... LHP Scott Kazmir is going for major league win No. 11 on Monday. ... Dodgers starters have struck out six or more in the last nine straight games. It ties the longest streak by the club since at least 1913. ... Mets RHP Bartolo Colon was named National League Co-Player of the Week on Monday. ... C Travis D'Arnaud (rotator cuff sprain) had a PRP injection on Monday. ... OF Yoenis Cespedes has home runs in each of the last two games and three home runs in his last four games. ... RHP Steven Matz is is unbeaten in his last five starts. ... The Mets have outscored opponents 24-5 in the first inning this season.