Chris Tillman (7-1) allowed three homers and four runs in six innings but improved to 6-0 in his last seven starts. Several years from now, when Utley is converting Citi Field into an ASPCA shelter, he’ll somehow be even more effective, probably with the help of some cool cybernetic appendage, assuming science moves at the rapid pace that I demand it does. That is just insane. Another insane Kershaw stat: his career ERA is 2.39 which is the lowest since 1920. He struck out nine and walked two in 7 2/3 innings.
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The loss capped a forgettable weekend for Familia, who has converted 32 straight regular-season save opportunities but blew a 5-1 lead in the ninth inning Friday before Granderson hit a walkoff homer. Flores threw to Neil Walker at second, whose relay throw was not in time to first for a double play, with Utley scoring on the play.
[Photo by Elsa/Getty Images]This was the first time that Chase Utley has returned to play at Citi Field since shortstop Ruben Tejada was injured during an aggressive slide into second base.
The ballpark particularly came alive when Colon came to the plate in the third inning. Manager Terry Collins said Wright received anti-inflammatory medication and would be re-examined after the medicine had 48 hours to take effect…. He’s got to go back and make the pitches he knows that he’s capable of doing so that he can get some outs. Call stood. He was out at second, but safe at first as it should have been.
Adrian Gonzalez: 2-for-4 with three RBI.
Yankees 2, Rays 1: Starlin Castro’s two-run homer off Jake Odorizzi in the seventh inning was New York’s only hit of the game. It’s only fitting, then, that the two bitter enemies conclude their three-game set in prime time.
Magic number, 1,000: Maddon said a goal for his five starters is to combine to pitch 1,000 innings this season, around 200 each. In true best friend fashion, Ellis flied out and Kershaw got to come in for the eighth.
Yes, it’s true; things got very, very Utley in Flushing.
That lone hit, however, was Kevin Plawecki’s leadoff single on a first-pitch fastball in the eighth.
That began a stretch of 11 straight Mets outs before Walker’s two-out double in the fourth. This is about where I lost my mind. Playing conservative with Kershaw at 114 pitches is defensible, but only if Jansen comes in. Roberts called in Adam Liberatore. I repeat, Adam Liberatore. In 2010, Philadelphia’s Cliff Lee issued seven walks before his 100th strikeout, the previous best ratio for a pitcher at the 100-strikeout mark. Liberatore gave up a triple to Granderson and all of a sudden it’s a tie game. But Familia proceeded to load the bases in the ninth inning.
“I forget what happened [Friday] and today, and tomorrow is a new day”, Familia said.
Familia (2-1) allowed more runs in the Dodgers series (six) than he previously had all season (five). (Hey, I’m not complaining though).
Kiké Hernandez led off the ninth with a single.
Dodgers: LHP Alex Wood (1-3, 4.03 ERA) starts Monday afternoon against RHP Jason Hammel (6-1, 2.17) and the major league-leading Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
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But Roberts wanted to limit Jansen’s four-out save opportunities; three in a month was too many for the rookie manager’s taste.
