New York @ Los Angeles preview
Dodger Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jun 28, 2012 ) NY Mets 3, LA Dodgers 2
After ending their lengthy scoreless drought in the series opener, the Los Angeles Dodgers may wind up beginning another when they face R.A. Dickey and the New York Mets in the second game of their four-game series. Los Angeles had gone 33 consecutive innings without a run before tallying twice in the fourth inning of Thursday's loss. With a new streak of five scoreless frames already in progress, the Dodgers will try to solve Dickey, who had thrown two straight one-hitters and three complete games in four outings before yielding five runs to the New York Yankees in his most recent start.
Thursday's setback marked the start of a seven-game homestand for the Dodgers, who were coming off a dismal 1-8 road trip. It was their fifth straight loss and 11th in 14 contests, dropping them one game behind San Francisco for first place in the National League West. The victory was the Mets' second in a row following a four-game losing streak. They are 2-2 on their seven-game road trip.
New York's David Wright, whose .361 average is second in the major leagues to Philadelphia catcher Carlos Ruiz's .362 mark, is hitting .356 (31-for-87) with three home runs and 17 RBIs over his last 23 games. Wright, who failed to get a hit in only two of those contests, has driven in eight runs over his last three games.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH R.A. Dickey (11-1, 2.31 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Aaron Harang (5-4, 3.81 ERA)
Dickey enters having won nine consecutive decisions and a major league-leading 11 games overall. The veteran knuckleballer had gone five straight starts without allowing an earned run before being tagged for five in six innings of a no-decision against the Yankees on Sunday. Dickey, who had yielded three earned runs or less in 11 consecutive outings prior to facing the Yankees, is 5-1 in seven road starts this season.
Harang is winless in his last three outings despite allowing three runs or less each time. The 34-year-old, who has gone six straight starts without yielding more than three runs, settled for a no-decision on the road against the Los Angeles Angels after surrendering three runs and eight hits over six innings. Harang is 3-3 in eight career starts against the Mets.
WALK-OFFS
1. Dickey's streak of consecutive innings without allowing an earned run ended at 44 2/3 frames on Sunday.
2. The Mets have scored a major league-leading 167 runs with two outs.
3. Los Angeles OF Andre Ethier may avoid a stint on the disabled list as an MRI revealed no swelling to his strained left oblique.