Recap: Dodgers Defeat Mets Behind Cody Bellinger’s Big Apple Grand Slam
The Los Angeles Dodgers answered the bell on Friday night in New York, literally. Coming off a shutout in the series finale at Wrigley Field and facing a Mets starter in Zack Wheeler who was on top of his game, the Dodgers found a way to triumph. Behind the solid starting pitching of Alex Wood and a huge swing from Cody Bellinger, the Dodgers won the game 5-2.
Early Pitcher’s Duel
Through five innings, this game took the shape of a pitcher’s duel. Wood and Wheeler matched one another stride for stride. Wheeler was featuring a fastball in the upper 90’s and Wood mixed in nice breaking stuff. The Dodgers nearly drew first blood when Joc Pederson hit a long fly ball to center with Kikè Hernandez on third base.
Michael Conforto kept the game scoreless. This is one of the finest catches you’ll see all season.
Hey @mconforto8 how do you like your steak? 'Cuz @Wheelerpro45 is buying. #LGM pic.twitter.com/0Sy7mJ9pf4
— New York Mets (@Mets) June 23, 2018
Soon, the bats would wake up on both sides. Yet, through five frames the game was 0-0 and appeared that one side would win 1-0.
Cody Bellinger’s Biggest Swing
Zack Wheeler had Cody Bellinger in an 0-2 count with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth inning. It appeared like another Bellinger at-bat would end in a strikeout. Then, something different happened. Wheeler tried to sneak a fastball past the slugger, and Bellinger was waiting on it. The ball landed in the seats, and the Dodgers wouldn’t trail again the rest of the evening.
401 foot #BELLIBOMB! #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/Rw3em8o2ZZ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 23, 2018
It was Bellinger’s 13th home run of the season and gave the Dodgers a 4-0 lead. One can speculate that this serves as a turning point for Bellinger’s sophomore season. Whether it does or not will be answered in the distant future. However, this was without a doubt the marquee moment of Bellinger’s 2018 season.
Yasiel Puig and Kenley Jansen Slam The Door Shut
The Dodgers weren’t done scoring. Jose Bautista cut the deficit to 4-2 with a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning off Wood. Nevertheless, Yasiel Puig got a ball in his hot zone in the top of the ninth inning. As Matt Vasgersian said on the MLB Network national broadcast, it was a 5:30 PM batting practice swing.
9th inning insurance ?! #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/nysgWoGRoY
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 23, 2018
The Dodgers held a 5-2 lead, and Kenley Jansen entered in the ninth inning to strike out two Mets hitters and record his 19th save.
Wood improves to 3-5 on the season and the Dodgers are now 39-35. Los Angeles remains 2.5 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks with Clayton Kershaw returning tomorrow against Jacob deGrom.
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