Mets Use Big Sixth-Inning Rally To Beat Last-Place Dodgers 5-2
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Angel Pagan, Carlos Beltran and Daniel Murphy had RBI doubles in the sixth inning after the Mets were held hitless through five by Rubby De La Rosa, and New York went on to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-2 on Monday night.
Chris Capuano (8-7) allowed six hits and two runs in six innings. The left-hander struck out five and walked two in winning his third decision in a row.
Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth to earn his 21st save in 24 chances.
Mets manager Terry Collins said he's willing to play with a 24-man roster for a few days while shortstop Jose Reyes recovers from a strained left hamstring rather than immediately placing Reyes on the disabled list, ensuring he would be out 15 days. Reyes plans to run before Tuesday's game and if he feels no pain, he may play, although the Mets might hold him out another day or two as a precaution.
De La Rosa (3-4) gave up five hits and three runs over seven innings in his sixth career start, struck out five and walked a season-low one while losing his fourth straight outing. One of his victories came in relief.
Ruben Tejada singled to open the sixth for the Mets' first hit. After Capuano sacrificed Tejada to second, he scored on Pagan's RBI double to right field. The Mets tied the game at 2 on Beltran's double to right with two outs.
Murphy followed with a double to right, scoring Beltran and giving the Mets a 3-2 lead. They added two runs in the eighth on RBI singles by Jason Bay and Lucas Duda.
The Dodgers' runs came on RBI singles by James Loney in the second and fourth that scored Matt Kemp both times.
Andre Ethier was 0 for 4 with a strikeout and didn't hit a ball out of the infield, while Kemp was 1 for 2 with two walks, one intentional, for the last-place Dodgers, who dropped their third in a row and fifth in their last six.
NOTES: The Dodgers purchased the contract of INF-OF Eugenio Velez and optioned SS Dee Gordon to Triple-A Albuquerque. ... In 16 starts, Capuano has yet to allow a run in the first inning. ... The Mets improved to 13-15 on the road July 4.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
