Dodgers Highlights: L.A. Beats Mets, 4-3, in Postseason Semi-Preview

The Dodgers rode solid pitching and a pair of clutch hits from Gavin Lux to a 4-3 victory over the Mets on Tuesday night, taking the first game of what many are calling a postseason preview.

Neither starting pitcher earned a decision in the game. Dodgers starter Andrew Heaney allowed three runs (two earned) in five innings, while New York starter Taijuan Walker allowed three earned runs in five and a third.

Lux and Thompson each had two hits as the Dodgers put up seven hits and earned eight walks. They left the bases loaded in three different innings.

FIRST TO 90 WINS. pic.twitter.com/mAdHQTRiak

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 31, 2022

Heaney limits the damage from his own error

After a leadoff single in the bottom of the first, Starling Marte bunted for a single down the first base line. Andrew Heaney fielded the ball and threw wildly to first, allowing Brandon Nimmo to score and Marte to go all the way to third. The ball likely would have gone foul if Heaney had let it roll, so instead of a strike one, it was a runner on third, a run in, and no outs.

Heaney then hit Francisco Lindor with a 1-2 pitch to put runners on the corners, but he struck out Pete Alonso and Darin Ruf with a Lindor caught-stealing in between. What looked like a potentially disastrous inning ended with just the one run in.

Home run ball remains a problem

Heaney allowed just one home run in his first seven starts of the season, but after two solo homers tonight, he has allowed six in his last three games.

The longball has been Heaney’s biggest issue throughout his career. He has averaged about one home run per start in his career, and about 1.6 per nine innings.

It cost Heaney a chance at the win tonight, as he departed after five innings with the game tied, 3-3.

Andrew Heaney's night is over. It was kind of a weird one.

Stuff was really good, getting a season high 21 whiffs. But he also gave up two homers and that first inning error was costly.

Heath Hembree is in to make his #Dodgers debut.

— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) August 31, 2022

Lux comes through in two big spots

A lot has been made of Lux’s performance with two strikes, which has been among the best in baseball this year. But he has also been outstanding on the first pitch.

Gavin Lux has been praised for his 2-strike hitting. He's also been solid on the first pitch. He gets a two-run single on a first pitch from Taijuan Walker to put the Dodgers up 3-1. Lux is batting .364 on the first pitch this season.

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) August 31, 2022

We saw both of those in action tonight. After Joey Gallo took a bases-loaded fastball off the tricep to tie the game, 1-1, in the top of the third, Lux knocked the next pitch from Walker into left field for a two-run single.

Gavin for the lead! pic.twitter.com/yUBRw1tWuE

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 31, 2022

And then in the top of the seventh, Lux came up with runners on first and third and one out, and on a full count he lined a base hit up the middle to give the Dodgers a 4-3 lead (and ultimately the winning run).

Gavin knows clutch. pic.twitter.com/yaCjQzzjUs

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 31, 2022

Phillips’ hidden perfect game

Evan Phillips is a reliever, so he’ll never have a chance to throw a perfect game. But he can throw a hidden perfect game.

Evan Phillips, dating back to August 6th, has retired 29 batters in a row

A hidden perfect game, with 8 strikeouts

— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) August 31, 2022

Over the past 25 days, he is 29 up, 29 down. Pretty, pretty good.

October preview? Maybe not

Heath Hembree and Jake Reed both got called up before the game on Tuesday, and both got thrown into the fire immediately. Hembree pitched the bottom of the sixth to earn the win as the pitcher of record when Lux gave them the lead in the seventh, and Reed pitched a scoreless ninth for his first career save.

Neither pitcher was flawless, as Hembree stranded two hits on base and Reed induced adouble play on a great play by Max Muncy after allowing a leadoff single.

This series has been billed as a postseason preview, but both Hembree and Reed are extremely unlikely to be on the postseason roster. But preview or not, the Dodgers won the game like they hope to in October.

"A crazy full circle." – Jake Reed shares his thoughts with @kirsten_watson after getting his first career save. #GoDodgers pic.twitter.com/kjjfUYXQTq

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 31, 2022

Up next

The Dodgers and Mets continue their series on Wednesday, with Tyler Anderson taking on Jacob deGrom.

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