The news of an elbow exam was a sobering revelation on a night when “Thor” knocked in all of the Mets’ runs with two homers and used a fastball touching 100 miles per hour to dominate the Dodgers (95 pitches, 64 for strikes, two runs in eight innings).
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The Mets’ Noah Syndergaard, right, celebrates his three-run home run with Eric Campbell during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. At that point, Syndergaard had plated all four of the Mets runs as they took a 4-2 lead into the sixth inning. This comes on the heels of a strong start against the Dodgers Monday night from Matz, when he picked up the victory tossing six innings and allowing two runs with five strikeouts.
The only other pitcher in Mets history to hit two homers in a game was Walt Terrell, who did it against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on August 6, 1983. Less than a week after teammate Bartolo Colon hit his first career home run, Syndergaard made a decision to join in on the fun as well.
But this would be the worst start since Maeda joined the Dodgers.
What’s next: Bartolo Colon (3-1, 2.82 ERA) has a stern test in trying to go deep on Thursday to answer Syndergaard’s performance.
Syndergaard (3-2) allowed two runs and six hits in eight innings, struck out six and walked one. But when the count got to 2-and-2, Syndergaard swung away and clobbered a slider from Maeda for a three-run home run.
After giving up just one run in 25 1/3 innings over his first four starts, Maeda has given up 10 runs in 17 2/3 innings over his past three (all losses for the Dodgers).
Syndergaard homered twice in the win, joining a select group of pitchers. Syndergaard earned the win and Familia earned the save although the Dodgers did try for a comeback in the bottom of the 9.
He plans to play catch on Thursday and will see a doctor in NY when the team wraps up its West Coast trip.
Mets: LHP Steven Matz will miss his next turn in the rotation Saturday at Colorado because his elbow has flared up.
Dodgers: INF-OF Alex Guerrero played his second game at Class A Rancho Cucamonga as part of a rehab assignment.
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The last time the Dodgers allowed 2 HR in a game to a pitcher was Lew Burdette in 1958. Verrett has proved invaluable as a spot starter already this season, making two starts in lieu of Jacob deGrom and combining to throw 12 shutout innings in those outings.
