Gonzalez's two-run single lifts Dodgers past Mets
NEW YORK -- Adrian Gonzalez's two-run single in the top of the ninth inning Sunday night snapped a tie and lifted the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-2 win over the New York Mets at Citi Field.
The Dodgers (27-24) won the final two games of the three-game series and have won six of their last seven. The Mets (28-21) fell out of a first-place tie with the Washington Nationals in the National League East.
The Mets tied the game in stunning fashion in the bottom of the eighth, when rookie Dodgers manager Dave Roberts lifted three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw with two out and the tying run at second.
Kershaw, who had not been pulled in the middle of an inning this season, stormed off the mound without looking at Roberts and watched left-hander Adam Liberatore gave up a game-tying triple to Curtis Granderson, who missed a homer by inches as the ball eluded the grasp of Yasiel Puig at the right-field wall.
But the Dodgers didn't take long to spare their manager the second-guessing. Pinch-hitter Enrique Hernandez laced a leadoff single against Mets closer Jeurys Familia (2-1), after which Familia struck out Chase Utley. Familia then walked Corey Seager and Justin Turner before Gonzalez singled to shallow center.
Gonzalez also had an RBI single in the fifth inning for the Dodgers, who scored their first run on an RBI fielder's choice by Turner in the third,
Liberatore (1-0) was credited with the win and Kenley Jansen earned his 15th save following a perfect ninth.
Kershaw allowed the two runs on four hits and no walks while striking out 10 -- the seventh time in his last eight starts he's reached double digits in strikeouts. He finished 5-0 in six May starts with a 0.72 ERA while striking out 65 and walking just two in 49 2/3 innings.
Kershaw allowed a leadoff double in the first to Granderson and retired 11 straight before surrendering another double to Neil Walker in the fourth. The Mets ended Kershaw's hopes of a fourth shutout this month in the sixth, when Asdrubal Cabrera hit a two-out homer just beyond the left-field wall.
The blast snapped Kershaw's scoreless streak at 20 1/3 innings and seemed to stun an otherwise raucous sellout crowd of 42,287.
Mets right-hander Bartolo Colon allowed two runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out three over six innings.
NOTES: The Mets activated INF Wilmer Flores from the disabled list and optioned INF Matt Reynolds to Triple-A Las Vegas. Flores started at third base in his first major league game action since he sustained a left hamstring injury May 10. ... Flores played in place of 3B David Wright, who missed his second consecutive game due to a sore neck. Manager Terry Collins said Wright received anti-inflammatory medication and would be re-examined after the medicine had 48 hours to take effect. ... Dodgers LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu had his next rehab start pushed back after he reported feeling stiffness Thursday, the day after his most recent appearance. Ryu underwent shoulder surgery 12 months ago and hasn't pitched in the majors since 2014. ... Dodgers RHP Kenta Maeda felt fine after being hit by a comebacker Saturday night. He is in line to make his next start Thursday against the Chicago Cubs.