Syndergaard Homers Twice In Mets' 4-3 Win Over Dodgers
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Noah Syndergaard became the second pitcher in Mets history to hit two home runs in a game on Wednesday night, driving in all of New York's runs in a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Syndergaard (3-2) allowed two runs and six hits in eight innings, struck out six and walked one. He gave up five hits in the first four innings and then retired 11 in a row.
Nicknamed "Thor" after the Marvel Comics character, Syndergaard swung a mighty black bat with his blond locks flowing beneath his helmet. He had to provide all the offense himself after his teammates produced just one run in his previous two starts.
Syndergaard hit a solo homer on the first pitch from Kenta Maeda (3-2) in the third inning, and slammed a three-run shot in the fifth.
Walt Terrell was the first Mets pitcher to hit two homers in a game at Wrigley Field on Aug. 6, 1983.
The last major league pitcher to homer twice in a game was Arizona's Micah Owings, who accomplished the feat against Atlanta on Aug. 18, 2007. Jim Tobin of the Boston Braves holds the modern-day big league record for pitchers with three home runs in a game against the Chicago Cubs on May 13, 1942.
Syndergaard came up with a chance to tie Tobin's mark with the bases loaded in the sixth. Facing Chris Hatcher, he took big rips on his first three pitches, fouling off each of them. With Syndergaard behind 1-2 in the count, Hatcher and catcher Yasmani Grandal convened for a chat as though Barry Bonds was at the plate. Syndergaard struck out swinging on his next pitch to end the threat.
He also struck out swinging in the eighth, taking big cuts on the six-pitch at-bat.
Jeurys Familia gave up a run in the ninth before earning his 12th save.
Maeda gave up four runs and six hits in five innings, struck out three and walked two. He failed to pitch at least six innings for the first time in seven starts this season.
Syndergaard's power display gave the Mets 51 homers through their first 33 games to lead the majors. They've hit 49 in the last 25 games and also lead the majors with 35 homers on the road. Last Saturday, Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon hit the first home run of his career at age 42 in San Diego.
The Dodgers tied it 1-all in the third on Corey Seager's homer. Grandal homered on Syndergaard's first pitch leading off the fourth for a 2-1 lead.
Syndergaard had been 0 for 8 this season. He has three career homers — two this season. He had just four career RBIs coming in and doubled that total Wednesday.
His first career homer came last May 27 against Philadelphia, when he went 3 for 3.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mets: LHP Steven Matz will miss his next turn in the rotation Saturday at Colorado because his elbow has flared up. He plans to play catch Thursday and will see a doctor in New York when the team wraps up its West Coast trip. ... 2B Neil Walker returned to the lineup after missing three games with a sore right leg.
Dodgers: INF-OF Alex Guerrero played his second game at Class A Rancho Cucamonga as part of a rehab assignment. He's been on the DL with injuries to his left groin and left knee sustained in spring training.
UP NEXT
Mets: RHP Bartolo Colon, fresh off hitting his first career home run at age 42 in San Diego, starts the series finale. He is 3-1 with a 2.82 ERA.
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (4-1, 2.02) has allowed two earned runs in 16 innings over his previous two starts, struck out 24 and walked none.
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