Ethier's Streak Ends At 30, Mets Beat Dodgers 4-2
By Rick Freeman
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- Pinch-hitter Justin Turner came through with a long single that snapped an eighth-inning tie and the New York Mets stopped Andre Ethier's hitting streak at 30 games Saturday night in a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Emergency starter Dillon Gee pitched effectively into the sixth and Jason Pridie had a career-high three hits - one night after his three-run homer sent the Mets to a 6-3 victory in the series opener.
Streaky all season, New York has won three straight since losing five of six.
Ethier went 0 for 4 with a first-inning walk. His final chance for a hit came in the eighth, but he struck out swinging at a pitch well off the plate with a runner on first.
He fell one game shy of the Dodgers record set by Willie Davis, who had a 31-game hitting streak in 1969.
Jason Bay started the eighth with a walk against Mike MacDougal (0-1) before Hong-Chih Kuo came in and retired Ike Davis on a popup. Pridie dropped down a sacrifice bunt, but Kuo threw the ball over the head of first baseman James Loney for an error that left runners at first and second.
Matt Guerrier walked pinch-hitter Ronny Paulino to load the bases for Turner, whose drive to deep center was almost caught on the run by Matt Kemp. The ball glanced off his glove as he sprinted toward the wall and tried to make an over-the-shoulder catch.
Paulino appeared to have an obstructed view and he retreated toward first base before Turner shoved him to keep from passing him on the bases. That held Turner to a single, and Paulino stopped at second.
Tim Byrdak (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning for his first win with the Mets and Francisco Rodriguez got three quick outs for his third save in three days. It was his ninth save in 10 chances - and his first 1-2-3 inning this season.
The Mets ran themselves out of a scoring chance in the seventh on Jose Reyes' second baserunning blunder, after he led off with a single and was bunted over.
On David Wright's grounder, shortstop Jamey Carroll fielded the ball and tried to pump-fake Reyes back, even though the speedy Reyes was already most of the way to third. Reyes saw Carroll and then stopped, allowing Carroll time to throw the ball to third baseman Juan Uribe, who got Reyes in a rundown and threw to second baseman Aaron Miles for the tag.
The Dodgers were wasteful, too. They left 14 on base and went 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position, falling a season-worst four games below .500 at 15-19.
Mets scheduled starter Chris Young was scratched shortly before the game began. The Mets said Young couldn't get loose in the bullpen. Gee started in his place.
He held the Dodgers to one run through five innings, but was yanked after allowing the tying run with one out in the sixth.
The Mets took a 2-0 lead in the second on Josh Thole's sacrifice fly and Reyes' single to center.
Dodgers starter Jon Garland gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings.
Los Angeles got one back in the fourth when Dioner Navarro homered, and tied it in the sixth when Miles singled in Carroll after a leadoff double.
NOTES: Citi Field was known as a pitcher's park in its first two seasons, but 37 homers had been hit there this season entering Saturday, third in the NL behind Chase Field in Phoenix (52) and Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati (51). ... Navarro picked off an inattentive Reyes at first with an easy, looping throw to end the second. ... Clips from "Seinfeld" were shown on the big screen all night. After Wright's double in the fifth, character Kenny Bania was shown saying "That's gold, Jerry! Gold!" ... Kemp stole his 11th base in the seventh. ... After nearly getting into trouble by retreating to first on Turner's drive in the eighth, Paulino was promptly doubled off second on a liner to shortstop.
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