Los Angeles Dodgers vs New York Mets 15/8/2021 Full Game

, DRIVING IN COREY SEAGER. THE DODGERS, A TEAM WHO DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF SUCCESS, HAVE WON TWO SUCH CONTESTS TO START THIS SERIES. LET'S GET YOU RIGHT TO DAVE ROBERTS TACO BELL STARTING LINEUP FOR THE DODGERS. A TRIO OF TWO-TIME ALL-STARS IN MUNCY, TURNER, AND SEEGER. WILL SMITH, HE HAS BEEN BIG THIS SERIES. HE BATS NUMBER FIVE. CHRIS TAYLOR, CODY BELLINGER. BILLY MCKINNEY. AND STARTER MAX SCHERZER, WHO TIM KURKJIAN PREDICTED WOULD GET A HIT TONIGHT. ON THE MOUND FOR THE METS, THE 34-YEAR-OLD RIGHT-HANDER CARLOS CARRASCO. GOT OFF TO A SLOW START OVERCOMING A SERIES OF PHYSICAL PROBLEMS. THE LAST SEASON, WITH THE INDIANS OVER 12 STARTS, STILL THE BEST SAMPLE SIZE FOR THE GUY THEY CALL COOKIE. HIS LAST ASSIGNMENT WAS INTERRUPTED BY RAIN ON TUESDAY. THE HOPE TONIGHT, AS LOUIS ROJAS TOLD US. >> HE REALLY FOCUSED ON HOW MANY TIMES HE GETS UP. 6'4", 224 POUNDS. THE VENEZUELAN WITH A FASTBALL, SLIDER, AND A CHANGE. THE SIGNATURE PITCH HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SLIDER OVER THE PAST YEARS. MATT: METS FANS INCLUDING MR. AND MRS. ARE CERTAINLY USED TO WATCHING MAX SCHERZER PITCH AGAINST THEIR TEAM. ONE WOULD EXPECT THAT PERHAPS TONIGHT'S PLAYS OUT IN SIMILAR FASHION TO LAST NIGHT. NOT A LOT OF BASE RUNNING ACTIVITY AND NOT A LOT OF ACTION ON THE SCOREBOARD. HERE IS ANOTHER GUY USED TO THE CONFINES AT CITI FIELD. TREA TURNER LEADING OFF. TREA LOOKING TO FIND HIS STRIDE IN HIS NEW UNIFORM, TWO FOR HIS LAST 17. HE IS SET TO LEAD THINGS OFF FOR THE DODGERS ON THE ROAD TONIGHT. UNDERWAY AT CITI FIELD. ANOTHER NOTE ON THE DODGERS, IN THE EXTRA INNINGS GAMES THEY HAVE WON THE LAST TWO NIGHTS, THEY STARTED THIS SERIES HAVE A LOST 11 STRAIGHT EXTRA INNINGS GAMES. LOSERS IN 12 OF 13 ONE RUN AFFAIRS. AS WE MENTIONED WHEN WE WENT ON THE AIR, FINALLY ABLE TO GAIN EVEN A GAME ON THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS. ALEX: THE COMPETITION IS FIERCE. THE DODGERS WALKING AROUND, SPENDING SOME TIME ON THE FIELD TODAY, THIS IS A CONFIDENT BUNCH. OBVIOUSLY, THE GUY ON THE MOUND TONIGHT, MAX SCHERZER, GIVES THE TEAM TONS OF CONFIDENCE. MATT: 79 DEGREES, VERY PLEASANT NIGHT FOR BASEBALL. HERE IS A HAD THE OTHER WAY FOR TURNER. ALEX: CARRASCO STARTS THE GAME WITH TWO SLIDERS. GETS THE FOOT DOWN EARLY AND JUST EXPLODES. FOOT DOWN, HEAD DOWN. PERFECT. MATT: TREA TURNER A BOARD TO START THE BALLGAME FOR THE TWO-TIME ALL-STAR MAX MUNCY. MUNCY, THREE FOR HIS LAST NINE, A COUPLE OF DOUBLES IN THE SERIES. TURNER, AS THE METS ARE WELL AWARE, HAS TERRIFIC SPEED AND BASE STEALING ACUMEN. HE HAS SWIPED 22 AND BEEN CAUGHT ONLY THREE TIMES THIS YEAR. ALEX: THE DODGERS RIGHT OFF THE BAT SHOWING OFF THEIR MUSCLES. SPEED AT FIRST BASE, POWER AT THE PLATE. IT IS A HANDFUL. THEY COME AT YOU FROM ONE TO NINE. MATT: AS FAR AS THE METS ARE CONCERNED, EVEN WITH THAT SWEEP THEY EARNED OVER THE NATIONALS LAST WEEK, NEW YORK HAS DROPPED NINE OF 13 IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST. TRYING TO STAY WITH THE REST OF THE PACK IN THE NL EAST. PHILLIES AND BRAVES, EVERYBODY IN THAT LOGJAM SEEMS TO HAVE THEIR OWN. LUIS ROJAS IS CALM AS CAN BE. 0-1 THE COUNT TO MAX MUNCY. WE TALKED BEFORE THE GAME. THERE IS ONLY SO MANY BUTTONS A MANAGER CAN PUSH IN THE ABSENCE OF PERSONNEL. UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE METS, A BIG PART OF THEIR STORYLINE AT THIS PART OF THE SEASON IS WHO THEY ARE WITHOUT. ALEX: THE METS STRUGGLES START OFFENSIVELY. THEY OBVIOUSLY DON'T HAVE DEGROM. BUT YOU NEED LEADERSHIP TO STEP UP MICHAEL CUDDYER, PETE ALONSO, CONFORTO, GUYS WHO CAN STEP UP THIS TIME OF YEAR, NOT ONLY WITH THEIR ACTIONS, BUT ALSO BEING A VOCAL LEADER INSIDE THAT CLUBHOUSE. MATT: IT IS A LONGER LIST OF PLAYERS THAT HAVE SPENT TIME ON THE IL. THE INJURIES, THE ABSENCES. THEY ENJOYED GREAT DEPTH. MUNCY SENDS A SLOW DRIBBLE. GOES TO FIRST TO GET THE OUT. ALEX: YOU MENTIONED ALL THE INJURIES BUT EVEN WITHOUT MOOKIE BETTS, THE DODGERS RA HANDFUL. NOW, TURNER, PROBABLY THEIR BEST HITTER, THERE MUST CLUTCH HITTER OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. LAST NIGHT, TURNER, WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE PITCHES, FIRST HIT TONIGHT. MATT: IT REALLY DOES PUNCTUATE THE LACK OF OFFENSIVE POP, WHEN YOUR STARTER, AS TAIJUAN WALKER DID YESTERDAY FOR THE METS, GETS INTO THE SEVENTH INNING AND YOU ARE UNABLE TO POST A VICTORY. ALEX: IT WAS A DEGROM-TYPE NIGHT. METS FANS HAVE BEEN USED TO THAT. TONIGHT, THEY NEED TO GET SOME RUNS EARLY, ESPECIALLY WITH A GUY LIKE MAX SCHERZER. MATT: JUSTIN TURNER TRYING TO GET THE DODGERS ON THE SCOREBOARD TONIGHT. TURNER MAKING HIS FIRST START SINCE AUGUST 8 AGAINST THE ANGELS. HE HAS BEEN ACTIVE THIS WEEKEND BUT NOT STARTING IN THE SERIES UNTIL TONIGHT. 1-2 TO THE DODGERS ALL-TIME POSTSEASON LEADER IN JUST ABOUT EVERY RELEVANT OFFENSIVE CATEGORY. HE IS LATE ON 94. IT IS 1-1. WE ARE RUNNING LOW ON THE LIST OF GUYS WHO ACTUALLY STILL PITCH THAT YOU FACED. CARLOS CARRASCO IS ONE OF THE OLD DAYS WHO IS STILL ON THE LIST. ALEX: I FACED BOTH GUYS TODAY. THEY HAD THEIR WAY WITH ME PRETTY MUCH. CARRASCO IS A TRICKY GUY ESPECIALLY AGAINST RIGHTIES BECAUSE OF THAT SLIDER. THE SLIDER HAS BEEN THAT DOMINANT PITCH. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, 141 BATTING AVERAGE. YOU NOTICE TONIGHT, HE DOES NOT GO FOR THE WINDUP. HE WILL BE FROM THE STRETCH ALL NIGHT, WHETHER GUYS ARE IN SCORING POSITION OR ON BASE. A MORE SIMPLE APPROACH. MATT: 2-1, JUSTIN TURNER TRYING TO PICK UP A RUNNER IN SCORING POSITION. CALLED STRIKE ON A BREAKING BALL. THAT SLIDER VERY MUCH A PART OF THE ARSENAL, AS YOU TALKED ABOUT THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. IT HAS BEEN THE STORY FOR CARRASCO MUCH OF HIS CAREER. ALEX: GOT TO PUNCH OUT TURNER HERE. MATT: COREY SEAGER WAITS ON DECK WITH A MAN IN SCORING POSITION. 2-2. THE GLASS HALF-EMPTY METS FAN WOULD TALK ABOUT THE SMALL RETURNS OFFENSIVELY, THE NOTABLE INJURIES TO DEGROM, SYNDERGAARD, SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DISCUSSED TONIGHT. THE GLASS HALF-EMPTY FAN WOULD SAY, DESPITE ALL OF THAT THIS IS A TEAM THAT IS VERY MUCH STILL IN THE THICK OF IT IN THE NL EAST. ALEX: GOOD SLIDER. THIS IS A VERY CAPABLE TEAM THAT HAS A LOT OF TALENT. THEY PICKED UP JAVY BAEZ. THEY ARE DOING WELL BUT THEY COULD DO BETTER AND THEY KNOW THAT. IT STARTS WITH CONFORTO. HE IS HOPEFULLY STARTING TO HEAT UP FOR THE METS. ALONSO, ONE OF THEIR LEADERS. MATT: FULL COUNT TO JUSTIN TURNER. WELL HIT TO LEFT FIELD. SMITH ON THE RUN, LOOKING UP, AND IT'S GONE! THE EX-MET HAS DONE IT TO THE FORMER EMPLOYER YET AGAIN. FANS AROUND HERE NEED NO REMINDERS OF THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY. BUT THEY JUST GOT ANOTHER. 2-0 DODGERS. ALEX: MR. TURNER HAS BEEN MR. EVERYTHING FOR THE DODGERS. THE 3-2 SLIDER. ALL OVER IT. LAID OFF THE 2-2 SLIDER. HERE IS THE CEMENT MIXER. TWO TURNERS, ONE WITH SPEED AND ONE WITH POWER. MATT: 0-2 THE COUNT TO COREY SEAGER. SEAGER HAS HIT SAFELY IN NINE OF 12 SINCE RETURNING FROM THE INJURY LIST. A TWO-RUN HOMER FROM JUSTIN TURNER HAS OPENED THE SCORING EARLY TONIGHT. SEAGER'S SUCCESS AGAINST THE METS. AND YOU SEE SOME OF IT RIGHT THERE. IT IS A PART OF THE DODGERS BIG PITCHER SUCCESS STORY AGAINST THE METS. THE DODGERS ARE 12-1 AT THIS BALLPARK SINCE MAY OF 2016. CARRASCO THROWS OUT SEAGER. ALEX: CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT TURNER. HE TOOK THE 2-2, SITTING ALL OVER THE 3-2 SLIDER, TWO-RUN BO MB. MATT: YOU GET A HUG FROM ALBERT, YOU DID SOMETHING RIGHT. ALEX: ABSOLUTELY. MATT: HERE IS WILL SMITH NOW. SMITH HAS HOMERED TWICE IN THE SERIES. DID HE GET ANOTHER? YES. HOMERS THROUGHOUT THIS SERIES FOR WILL SMITH! 3-0, LOS ANGELES. ALEX: WILL SMITH ALREADY THE HERO ON FRIDAY NIGHT. ALSO ON SATURDAY NIGHT. TONIGHT, THIRD DAY IN A ROW WITH A HOME RUN ON THE FASTBALL. 94 MILES PER HOUR. HE GETS THAT FOOT DOWN. AND, THE HEAD DOWN. THIS IS A VERY CONFIDENT DODGERS OFFENSIVE TEAM. MATT: I LOVE THAT SIDE SWING SHOT WE SAW. YOU TALK ABOUT LOADING UP. HERE IS CHRIS TAYLOR, A GUY IN THE MIDST OF A PRETTY GOOD WEEKEND HIMSELF. TWO HOMERS AND A 3-0 DODGERS LEAD TWO OUTS INTO THE BALLGAME. ALEX: MAX SCHERZER, 3-0 FEELS LIKE 13-0. IT WILL BE IMPERATIVE FOR THE METS TO CHIP AWAY EARLY. MATT: CARRASCO IN FRONT OF TAYLOR, 0-2. IT IS A DODGER LINEUP AMONG ITS VIRTUES THAT DOES NOT CHASE VERY OFTEN. I AM SURE CARLOS CARRASCO IS AWARE OF THAT. PLENTY OF POWER EVEN WITHOUT MOOKIE BETTS. WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN THAT. 2-2 NOW. ALEX: ONE OF THE MANY THINGS THAT MAKES THE DODGERS A CHAMPIONSHIP-CALIBER TEAM, YOU ARE SEEING CARRASCO'S SLIDERS. MATT: HE DOES GET A STRIKEOUT TO END THE FIRST, BUT PLENTY OF DAMAGE DONE. FOR MATT: 3-0 LEAD FOR MAX SCHERZER. AN ADVANTAGE BEFORE HE GOES TO WORK. 9-4 OVERALL THIS YEAR. ABOUT TO MAKE HIS THIRD STARTING ASSIGNMENT AS AN L.A. DODGER. A GUY DESTINED FOR COOPERSTOWN AT THE END OF HIS RUN, WHATEVER IT MAY BE. FINAL YEAR OF HIS CONTRACT AT AGE 37. A GUY WHO OCCUPIES A PROMINENT PLACE IN THE LEXICON OF GREAT STARTING ARMS AROUND THE LEAGUE. TAKES BRANDON NIMMO FOR STRIKE ONE. THE REST OF THE LINEUP. NIMMO, CONFORTO, AND ALONSO. NIMMO HAS HIT FOUR HOMERS AGAINST SCHERZER. NO ONE HAS HIT MORE AGAINST MAD MAX. DOMINIC SMITH, JEFF MUNN IL, JD DAVIS, MCCANNA, AND CARRASCO. QUICKLY IN FRONT OF RENDON NIMMO. IT IS 0-2. THE OTHER WAY AND IN FOR A KNOCK. WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT A MOMENT AGO, CHIPPING AWAY AT THE DEFICIT. ALEX: YOU HAVE TO GET THE HORSES EARLY BECAUSE IF THEY GET WARMED UP AND COMFORTABLE, YOU PROBABLY WILL NOT GET THEM. YOU'VE GOT TO LOVE THAT APPROACH. NOT TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH. JUST FIGHTS IT FOR A BASE HIT. MATT: SO, A CHANCE NOW FOR MICHAEL CONFORTO. AGAIN, FOUR CAREER HOMERS AGAINST MAX SCHERZER. ONE HOP FOR MUNCY. THEY DO GET THE OUT AT FIRST BASE. THAT WAS A ROCKET. NIMMO STAYS ABOARD AND ADVANCES TO SECOND. ALEX: EXCELLENT PLAY HEREBY MUNCY. CONVERTS HIMSELF INTO A CATCHER. SCHERZER GETS OVER THERE, PLENTY OF TIME. MATT: HOCKEY GOALIE ON YOUR RIGHT THERE. IN HOCKEY, THEY HAVE AT LEAST GOT A PAD. THAT GOT HIM RIGHT IN THE BELLY. ALEX: THAT IS GOING TO LEAVE A MARK ON THAT LEFT WRIST. YOU WANT TO PUT SOME ICE ON THAT AS SOON THE GAME IS OVER. MATT: NIMMO IN SCORING POSITION NOW FOR PETE ALONSO. EVEN WITH THE WALKOFF WINNER LAST WEEK AGAINST THE NATIONALS, BIG PETE HAS DRIVEN AND ONLY THREE RUNS IN HIS LAST 15 GAMES. AND THESE, QUITE FRANKLY, HAVE BEEN THE SITUATIONS THAT HAVE GIVEN THE METS FITS IN THE PAST MONTH-PLUS. BATTING WITH RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION. THEY ARE 2-17 OUR ISP -- 2-17 RISP IN THE SERIES AND TRYING TO DEAL WITH SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT GIVE UP A LOT OF DAMAGE WITH RUNNERS ON BASE. ALEX: A DOUBLE NEGATIVE THERE. BUT IF HE IS GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE, HAS GOT TO DO IT EARLY. MATT: 2-1. ALEX: YOU LOVE THE MATCH HERE. BACK-TO-BACK FASTBALLS IN, MAYBE LOOK FOR A SLIDER-CUTTER. HE SHOULD BE THINKING THE OTHER WAY. MATT: 2-1 PITCH. VAL'S IT AWAY. -- HE FOULS IT AWAY. YOU WILL SEE SOME PRETTY ROUGH NUMBERS FOR MOST OF THESE MEDITATORS CAREER AGAINST MAX SCHERZER. A LOT OF EXPERIENCE GIVEN MAX'S LONG TENURE IN THE NL EAST. HE HAS BEEN VERY GOOD AT THIS BALLPARK IN PARTICULAR. AND, ALONSO, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE PLATE. AT THIRD, NOT IN TIME! YOU HAVE GOT A 3-0 LEAD. WHY TO THIRD BASE? ALEX: THAT IS A MENTAL MISTAKE. THAT ALL SHOULD GO TO FIRST BASE 10 OUT OF 10 TIMES. THIS IS A VERY EASY CALL. AS A CATCHER, WHEN YOU COME OUT OF THERE, YOU DON'T NEED ANY INSTRUCTIONS. THERE IS ONLY ONE PLACE TO GO, FIRST BASE. MATT: JUSTIN WAS POINTING HIM FIRST BASE. THE METS CATCH A REAL BREAK. NOW THEY HAVE RUNNERS AT THE CORNERS WITH ONE GONE. BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR DOMINIC SMITH. CHASES 96 AND IT IS 1-1. ALEX: ALONSO KNOWN FOR ADDING BOMBS 450 FEET-PLUS, HITS 12 FEET. HERE IS A SITUATION WHERE THE METS HAVE TO AT LEAST GET ONE, MAKE THIS GAME 3-1. YOU ARE LOOKING FOR CONTACT, PREFERABLY PULL CONTACT IN THE AIR. MATT: CHASES THAT SAME HIGH FASTBALL. HERE IS A REPLAY, TURNER TRYING TO POINT SMITH THE PROPER BAG. HE WAS AS SURPRISED AS ANYBODY TO BE TAKING A THROW THERE. ALEX: ABSOLUTELY. AND, WILL SMITH KNEW THAT HE MESSED IT UP PROBABLY THE MINUTE HE THREW THAT BALL. MATT: A TIP FOUL THAT SMITH CAN'T HANG ONTO. ALEX: WHEN YOU'RE STRUGGLING WITH MEN IN SCORING POSITION, THIS, YOU CANNOT MISS THIS PITCH. A SLIDER MIDDLE-MIDDLE, THAT IS THE LAST PITCH YOU WILL GET THAT WAS HITTABLE. HAS TO CAPITALIZE ON MISTAKES. MATT: THERE HAVE BEEN SIX DOUBLE PLAYS TURNED BEHIND MAX SCHERZER THIS YEAR. ALREADY, AND THIS IS A PART OF THAT DECISION BY WILL SMITH, IT HAS TURNED INTO A STRESS INNING FOR MAX SCHERZER. NOT ONLY FOUR PITCHES BUT A RUNNER AT THIRD, LESS THAN TWO OUT TYPE PITCHES. THE 2-2. AND, SMITH SENDS A LITTLE POP IN THE INFIELD FOR JUSTIN TURNER. THAT IS THE SECOND OUT OF THE INNING. ALEX: THE CHANGEUP THAT TIME. NOT MUCH DOM SMITH CAN DO WITH THAT PITCH. BIG OUT FOR MAX SCHERZER AND THE DODGERS THERE. MATT: FIRST CHANGEUP HE HAS THROWN ALL NIGHT AND HE GETS A BIG OUT ON IT NOW. JEFF MCNEIL IS A NOTORIOUS FIRST BALL SWINGER. FIRST AND THIRD, TWO GONE. 1-0. MCNEIL, .264 IN TERMS OF BATTING AVERAGE. ON JULY 30, HE WAS HITTING AS HIGH AS .280. THAT WAS HIS SEASON HIGH. UNDER .200 SINCE. A COUPLE OF SHAKES FROM MAX. AND, THE 1-0. HAD THAT NICE SOUND. 1-1. ALEX: FOR THE METS, MCNEIL IS THE RIGHT MAN IN THE RIGHT SPOT. HE IS A GOOD FASTBALL HITTER, SHORT AND COMPACT. MATT: NIMMO REACHED ON A BASE HIT. ALONSO AT FIRST, GOT THERE ON THE FIELDER'S CHOICE PLAY. 1-1 THE COUNT TO JEFF MCNEIL. TWO CHANGEUPS, AND SUCCESS ON BOTH. YOU SEE SOME OF SCHERZER'S SPLITS AGAINST LEFT-HANDED HITTERS. WHATEVER WAS GOING WRONG AGAINST LEFTIES LAST YEAR WAS FIXED AT SEASON. I WOULD IMAGINE THAT CHANGEUP IS A BIG PART OF IT. 1-2. ALEX: HE WANTED THIS PITCH UP, HE MISSED DOWN. WANTS IT UP. GOOD JOB OF MCNEIL JUST FIGHTING IT OFF. MATT: STILL 1-2. STAYED OFF THE HIGH FASTBALL. THE METS AS A TEAM HAVE A .394 SLUGGING PERCENTAGE AGAINST FASTBALLS THIS YEAR. THAT IS NEXT TO LAST IN ALL OF BASEBALL. 2-2 TO JEFF MCNEIL. IN THE AIR OUT TO LEFT. TAYLOR FINDS IT AND RETIRES THE SIDE. PRZING RUN OFFENSIVELY IN THIS SERIES. A BIG HOMER ON FRIDAY TO WIN IT. HOMERED AGAIN YESTERDAY. THIS IS A GUY WHO HAS REALLY PICKED UP THE FLAIR FOR THE DRAMATIC. HIS SOLO SHOT AGAINST CARLOS CARRASCO TONIGHT. CODY BELLINGER LEADS THINGS OFF IN THE DODGER HALF OF THE SECOND. 3-0 L.A. BELLINGER WITH A SHOT INTO THE GAP IN RIGHT CENTER FIELD. CODY ON HIS WAY INTO SECOND. THE THROW IS NOT IN TIME. A LEADOFF DOUBLE FOR CODY BELLINGER IN THE DODGERS SECOND. ALEX: THERE IS A LOT TO LIKE HERE. THE SWING ON TIME OF THE FASTBALL, THE INCREDIBLE ATHLETICISM AND SPEED RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX. GREAT SWING ON TOP OF THE BASEBALL AND ON TIME. SOMETHING THE DODGERS WILL ILLUSTRATE THE NEXT SEVERAL INNINGS. GREAT SPEED, GREAT SLIDE. MATT: THE RETURNS ARE GETTING A LOT BETTER. ACCORDING TO DAVE ROBERTS, IT IS GETTING BETTER WITH THE EYEBALL TEST. HERE IS MCKINNEY NOW. HERE ARE THE RETURNS. FROM APRIL TO JULY, FIRST FEW MONTHS OF THE SEASON, NOT BELLINGER-LIKE AT ALL. THINGS STARTED TO CHANGE IN AUGUST. THE O.P.S. GETTING EVEN HEALTHIER AFTER THE DOUBLE HERE TONIGHT. THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS AT THE HEART OF THAT. THE DODGERS WILL BE THE FIRST ONES TO TELL YOU THAT HEALTH IS THE FIRST ONE. ALEX: HEALTH, THEN HIS MENTALITY AND CONFIDENCE. YOU LOOK GOOD, YOU STILL NEED THE RESULTS. BACK-TO-BACK DOUBLES FOR BELLINGER. FASTBALL, UPPER QUADRANT OF THE STRIKE ZONE, ON TIME, AND THE BARREL ON TOP OF THE BASEBALL. MATT: MCKINNEY FOULS THAT ONE AWAY. WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO LAST YEAR, POSTSEASON, WITH CODY BELLINGER 'S LEAD SHOULDER, THAT WAS THE FOREARM BASH HEARD AROUND THE WORLD. BY ALL ACCOUNTS, THAT LED TO SOME BAD STUFF. SHOULDER SURGERY IN THE OFF-SEASON AND CODY IS STILL HEALING FROM THAT. KIND OF REMINDS YOU OF CELEBRATORY INJURIES FROM THE PAST INCLUDING WHEN KENDRYS MORALES HOPPED ON HOME PLATE ABOUT A DECADE AGO AS AN ANGEL. ALEX: I REMEMBER THAT, A DAY GAME IN ANAHEIM. AND OF BEING OUT FOR A WHILE. MATT: I BELIEVE IT WAS A.C.L.. I REMEMBER JAKE PEAVY HURTING HIMSELF CELEBRATING A POSTSEASON CLINCH IN SAN DIEGO. HERE IS SCHERZER. BELLINGER STILL ABOARD. THIS IS TRENDING ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS THE TIM KURKJIAN CHALLENGE AT-BAT TONIGHT. TIMMY PREDICTED A HIT FROM MAX SCHERZER, WHO HE SAYS IS THE BEST HITTING PITCHER TO GO 0 FOUR IS LAST 43. YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO SEPTEMBER 18 OF 2019 FOR THAT LAST KNOCK. ALEX: TARASCO IS NOT THE KIND OF PITCHER YOU WANT TO FACE WHEN YOU ARE 0-43. HE SPINS IT TOO MUCH. LIKE THAT. MATT: IT IS 0-2. ALEX: ONE HOME RUN IN 444 MAJOR LEAGUE CAREER AT-BATS. ONE HOME RUN. MATT: BELLINGER ABOARD IN SCORING POSITION AND ONE AWAY. MAX IS SUCH AN INTENSE CHARACTER, HE IS NOT SOMEONE WHO GOES UP THERE LIKE LAUGHINGLY WITH THE BAT IN HIS HANDS. HE WILL MOVE THE RUNNER HERE. A PRODUCTIVE PLATE APPEARANCE FOR SCHERZER. ALEX: PRODUCTIVE INDEED. THAT MOVES BELLINGER OVER TO THIRD BASE. WITH THE SPEEDY TURNER, IT BRINGS THE BUNT IN PLAY, THE BOBBLE, THE ERROR. A SLIDER. CONTACT. -- CONTACT IS KING. MATT: NOW TREA TURNER, WHO SINGLED AND SCORED FROM THE JUSTIN TURNER HOMER LAST INNING. THEY CALL HIM THE ELECTRIC SLIDER. FOR THIS CASUAL MOVE. SOCIAL MEDIA HAD A BALL WITH THIS. SLIDE IN SAFELY, PERFECT FORM. MATT: --ALEX: AS AN INFIELDER, THIS IS A STRESSFUL SITUATION BECAUSE ANY BOBBLE PLATES A RUN. YOU DON'T WANT TO PLAY TOO DEEP. MATT: CAN WE COMPARE THAT SLIDE OF TREA TURNER'S TO THIS? FLASHING BACK, 2015. [LAUGHTER] WERE YOU PLAYING WITH BUNIONS? ALEX: THE GRACE OF AN ELEPHANT. AND THEN STEVE DONOHUE WITH THE WATER. I GOT HOME THAT NIGHT AND MY DAUGHTERS LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, WHAT WAS THAT? MATT: AND YOUR DAUGHTERS WERE LITTLE KIDS BACK THEN. 2-1 THE COUNT TO TREA TURNER. INTO LEFT FIELD, AND THAT IS GOING TO DRIVE IN BELLINGER TO MAKE IT 4-0. ALEX: A PRIME PLAYER. FIRST AT-BAT, FIGHTS OFF AND OTHER WAY BASE HIT. THIS TIME, IT IS A SLIDER, HE HITS A BULLET OVER SHORTSTOP. MATT: TWO PLATE APPEARANCES TONIGHT, WE HAVE SEEN EXACTLY WHY THE DODGERS ARE WILLING TO HANDLE THE GROWING PAINS THAT SECOND BASE WITH TREA TURNER BECAUSE HE ADDS SO MUCH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SCORECARD. ALEX: THIS GUY HAS GOT SO MUCH TALENT. THIS GUY IS A PRIME TIME WHO CAN BE YOUR SHORTSTOP FOR THE NEXT 5, 6, 7 YEARS. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE MOVE FOR THE DODGERS. MATT: POTENTIALLY NOT JUST A SHORT-TERM PLAY TO WIN ANOTHER WORLD SERIES. IT REALLY WILL SET THE DODGERS UP FOR SOME INTERESTING CHOICES IN THE OFF-SEASON. BOTH TREA TURNER AND COREY SEAGER ARE FREE AGENTS AT THE END OF THE YEAR. AMAZING NUMBERS. SINCE 2020, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AN ELITE TALENT. ONE OF ONLY THREE PLAYERS AND ALL OF BASEBALL WITH AT LEAST 15 HOMERS IN 20 STOLEN BASES. ALEX: YOU CAN HAVE THE ARGUMENT ON, THEY HAVE TREMENDOUS RESOURCES, AN EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES. YOU ALSO HAVE THE SKILL. HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET TWO PLAYERS TO COME TO YOUR TEAM IN THE MIDDLE OF A PENNANT RACE, ONE TO BE YOUR FRONT LINE PITCHER AND THE OTHER ONE TO BE YOUR LEADOFF FOR ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP RUN. TURNER, TREMENDOUS CHARACTER. MATT: 2-1 THE COUNT TO MAX MUNCY. IT IS 2-2 TO MAX. TWO-STRIKE COUNTS, THAT IS WHEN MAX MUNCY REALLY STARTS, RIGHT? FULL COUNT, I LIKE TO CALL HIM. ALEX: HE IS A MICROCOSM OF WHAT THIS LINEUP IS AND WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN THE PAST FEW YEARS. THEY ARE DISCIPLINED, THEY DON'T CHASE. THE METS COULD NOT CAPITALIZE WITH A MAN IN SCORING POSITION. THE DODGERS, ANOTHER REASON WHY THEY ARE HOT. MATT: 2-2 TO MAX MUNCY. HE IS TOP SIX IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE IN WALKS, ON-BASE PERCENTAGE, AND O.P.S.. LET'S GO BACK TO THAT 15 AND 20 LIST. TURNER, TATIS. DID YOU SEE WHAT THE PADRES RIGHT FIELDER DID TODAY. FIRST CAME OFF THE IL, STARTING IN RIGHT FIELD. IS THERE ANY QUESTION HE HAS THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER ON THAT ROSTER IF NOT IN THE ENTIRE LEAGUE? ALEX: JUST THE SWAG, THE CONFIDENCE HE BRINGS TO THAT LINEUP, THAT FRANCHISE. MATT: THIS IS LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER GETTING NO-HIT BY THE DIAMONDBACKS YESTERDAY. TATIS COMES BACK AND ALL OF EVERYTHING IS FINE. ALEX: THE MAGIC IS BACK. MATT: THEY GOT THEIR THING BACK TODAY. 3-2 TO MUNCY IS HIT WELL TO LEFT CENTER FIELD. NIMMO TRACKING AND THAT ONE IS GONE! ALREADY, THE THIRD HOME RUN OF THE NIGHT FOR THE DODGERS. 6-0 LOS ANGELES. ALEX: WITH TWO STRIKES, THAT IS WHEN MUNCY STARS. A 3-2 SLIDER, FOULING THE BALL OFF. THE CEMENT MIXER. YOU WEAR THEM DOWN, AND A LITTLE CHANGEUP RIGHT THERE, A HOME RUN TO LEFT CENTER. PICTURE-PERFECT APPROACH. MATT: JUSTIN TURNER GETS KNOCKED DOWN ON THE VERY NEXT PITCH. ALEX: THAT WILL GET THE DUGOUT CHATTERING A LITTLE BIT. MATT: NOT A WORD FROM TURNER. NOT A WORD SO FAR FROM DAVE ROBERTS. ALEX: THAT IS A FIRED UP DUGOUT. YOU GET EVERYBODY TO PAY ATTENTION EVEN A LITTLE BIT MORE. MATT: YOU'RE ARE TALKING ABOUT A GUY HERE IN JUSTIN TURNER WHO IS FRESH OFF THE IL. 2-0. THREE IN THE FIRST, THREE IN THE SECOND FOR LOS ANGELES. THREE HOMERS TONIGHT FOR THE DODGERS EARLY ON. 2-1. THE PITCH COUNT ON CARLOS CARRASCO, WHICH WILL HIT 50 WITH THIS ONE. IT WAS NOT THE PREGAME FOCUS AS MUCH AS, THE METS MEASURE UPS AND DOWNS. THEIR OUTSTANDING PITCHING COACH, WITH HIS EXPERIENCE COMING BACK WITH MULTIPLE TOMMY JOHN SURGERIES HIMSELF, HE IS KIND OF AT THE ART OF THIS INCLUDING THE TRAINING STAFF, MEASURING UPS AND DOWNS IN TERMS OF HOW LONG WE CAN GO. HOWEVER, THERE ARE LIMITS TO THAT. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN AS MANY UPS AND DOWNS BUT OBVIOUSLY THE WORKLOAD IS NOT WHERE THEY WANT TO SEE IT TONIGHT. ALEX: I AGREE WITH THE APPROACH THE METS MEDICAL STAFF IS TAKING. THE OTHER PART, THE BAROMETER OF LEVERAGE PITCHES. SO FAR, THERE HAS BEEN A BUNCH FOR CARRASCO. MATT: JUSTIN TURNER, THE 3-2 HOME AND THERE IS BALL FOUR. YOU GET THE SENSE THAT THE TIME OF MIGHT RUN OUT ON CARRASCO TONIGHT BEFORE THE UPS AND DOWNS HIT FIVE OR SIX. THIS IS NOT IDEAL TIMING, OF COURSE. BUT WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MIDST OF A STRETCH LIKE THE METS ARE NOW, WHERE THEY ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF RUNNING THE GAUNTLET. 13 STRAIGHT AGAINST THE DODGERS AND THE GIANTS. AND HERE COMES THE EFFORT MENTIONED JEREMY HEFNER. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BACK-TO-BACK EXTRA INNINGS GAMES TO START THIS SERIES. IT IS NOT LIKE YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF FRESH GUYS YOU CAN RUN OUT THERE FOR BULK INNINGS EARLY. ALEX: WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE DODGERS AND THEIR OFFENSE, IT IS NOT JUST TALENT, IT IS PREPARATION AND APPROACH. MUNCY AND TURNER, BOTH OFF BREAKING BALLS. FIRST, TURNER WITH THE BREAKING, THEN THE CHANGEUP FOR MUNCY. THEY ARE GOING UP THERE WITH AN APPROACH. THEY ARE LIKE SNIPER SHOOTERS. THEY ARE FOCUSED AND WHEN THEY GET THERE PITCH, THEY DON'T MISS. MATT: SEVEN OF THE 13 PLATE APPEARANCES THAT THE DODGERS HAVE HAD TO START THE BALLGAME HAVE COME WITH A MAN ON. TO YOUR POINT ABOUT STRESS INNINGS OR STRESS PITCHES, IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT THAT FOR CARRASCO OF A SEEMINGLY, TONIGHT. 2-0 NOW. ALEX: IT GOES BACK TO THE TWO-OUT R.B.I. DOUBLE BY TURNER. THEY JUST KEEP LEANING ON YOU, PASSING THE BATON. THEY WILL PUNISH YOU. IF NOT, TRUST YOUR TEAMMATES. MATT: 2-1. THIS WILL BE THE 30TH PITCH OF THE INNING FOR CARRASCO. TIED HIM UP WITH A FASTBALL INSIDE. 2-2 NOW. THE METS ARE NOT BUILT TO WIN A LOT OF BIG-TIME SLUGFEST. IT IS A LINEUP, THE METS, AVERAGING A MAJOR LEAGUE LOW 3.5 RUNS PER GAME AT HOME. SEEGER IT'S RUNG UP, PUTTING AN -- THREE MORE FOR THE DODGERS. R.B.I. DOUBLE BY TREA TURNER. A TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY MAX MUNCY. JUST AN INNING AND MATT: MAJORLY ALL ACTION COMING UP ALL THE -- ALL WEEK ON ESPN. WEDNESDAY, RED SOX AND YANKEES. SUNDAY NIGHT, THE LITTLE LEAGUE CLASSIC. BUSTER WILL BE BACK WITH US AND HE, ALEX, AND I WILL BE IN PENNSYLVANIA FOR THE INDIANS AND ANGELS A WEEK FROM TONIGHT. ALL DODGERS TO START THE NIGHT, 6-0 LOS ANGELES. J.D. DAVIS LEADS THINGS OFF AGAINST MAX SCHERZER. JUSTIN TURNER WITH ONE OF THE THREE DODGER HOMERS TONIGHT. A BALL AND A STRIKE TO J.D. DAVIS. THE METS SAYING, HEY, HOW'S IT GOING? YOUR TEAM D.F.A.ED ME AFTER THE 2013 SEASON. HOW WE FEELING? A BALL AND TWO STRIKES. ALEX: I CAN'T THINK OF ANOTHER PLAYER THAT'S MORE POPULAR IN THEIR HOMETOWN, A TOWN WHERE HE GREW UP WATCHING AND LISTENING TO THE DODGERS. A BIG FAN OF VIN SCULLY. ONCE TOOK A PITCHER AT CITI FIELD WITH VIN SCULLY, CALLED IT ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF HIS CAREER. MATT: I SHOULD CORRECT MYSELF. THEY ARE NOT TENURED BY THE METS AFTER 2013. A BALL AND TWO STRIKES THE COUNT TO DAVIS. WHAT HAVE THE METS MISSED THE DAY THEY LET HIM WALK OUT THE DOOR? A LOT OF EXTRA-BASE HITS. HE HAS 338 SINCE LEAVING HERE. THE METS LEADER MICHAEL CONFORTO WITH 265. ALEX: HE IS SO MUCH MORE THAN NUMBERS. HE IS THE TOTAL TALK -- THE TOTAL PACKAGE, A LEADER, A GUY THE CLUBHOUSE AND PLAYERS TRUST EVERY DAY, ESPECIALLY AT THE BIG MOMENTS. THERE WAS BIG PAPI OUT FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, IT HAS BEEN JUSTIN TURNER. MATT: FIRST STRIKEOUT OF THE GAME FOR MAX SCHERZER AS J.D. DAVIS SWINGS AND MISSES. ALEX: WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CONTRAST OF THESE TWO TEAMS, IT'S NOT ONLY TALENT, BUT APPROACH. THE DODGERS OFFENSIVELY WILL WEAR YOU DOWN. THEY WILL LAY OFF PITCHES, FOUL IT OUT. THE PITCHER MAKES A MISTAKE AND THEY PAY FOR IT. MATT: JONATHAN VILLAR HAS A FIRST PITCH SINGLE UP THE MIDDLE. VILLAR DROVE IN THE METS LONE RUN ON FRIDAY. IF YOU ARE WONDERING IF THE METS HAVE A BIG OUTPUT INTO TONIGHT, THAT SHOULD TELL YOU A LOT THEY SCORED -- A LOT. THEY SCORED SIX OR MORE RUNS IN THEIR LAST 23 GAMES AND TONIGHT HAD TO TRY TO DO IT AGAINST MAX SCHERZER, A TALL ORDER. HERE IS JAMES MCCANN WITH ONE OUT AND ONE ON. CARLOS CARRASCO IS ON DECK EXTENSIVELY TO HIT IN HIS OWN SPOT IN THE ORDER, BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY THE METS WON'T MAKE A PITCHING CHANGE FOR THE NEXT HALF INNING, EVEN IF CARRASCO DOES SWING THE BAT. IT'S EARLY. YOU START BURNING THROUGH TWO GUYS FOR ONE, A NEW PITCHER AND A PINCH HITTER, AND YOU ARE GOING TO FIND YOURSELF BARELY COVERED BY THE SEVENTH OR EIGHTH INNING. ALEX: YOU MENTIONED THE TOUGH STRETCH COMING UP. AS A MANAGER FROM A STARTING PITCHER YOU WANT QUALITY AND LENGTH. IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET QUALITY, ROJAS IS LOOKING FOR LENGTH. MATT: TWO BALLS AND NO BAMA STRIKES THE COUNT -- AND NO STRIKES THE COUNT TO MCCANN. IF I HAD SUGGESTED TO YOU ON OPENING DAY THAT FRANCISCO LINDOR AND JAVY BAEZ WOULD BE TEAMMATES IN FLUSHING, QUEENS, AFTER THE TRADING DEADLINE THIS YEAR, YOU WOULD HAVE SAID WHAT? ALEX: LIAR LIAR. MATT: ON THE GROUND FOR TURNER. TURNER BOBBLES THE EXCHANGE AND EVERYBODY IS SAFE. TREA TURNER LEARNING THE POSITION OF SECOND BASE AND THAT TURN HAS BEEN HIS BIGGEST CHALLENGE. THAT TIME HE COULDN'T FIND THE HANDLE ON THE FEED. ALEX: AT SHORTSTOP GOING TO SECOND BASE, THIS IS THE HARDEST ADJUSTMENT, HAVING TO TURN TO THE DOUBLE PLAY. HE IS LEARNING ON THE JOB. TRIES TO TURN TWO AND GETS NONE. MATT: THEY MIGHT REVIEW THIS. THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN YOUR INNING ENDING DOUBLE PLAY. THAT WAS JUST ROOM SERVICE. IT'S GOING TO BE A FIELDER'S CHOICE E4 IF IN FACT IT STANDS. THE DODGERS HAVE ASKED FOR A CHALLENGE ON WHAT HAPPENED AT SECOND BASE. DAVE ROBERTS IS HOPING TURNER HAD POSSESSION OF THE BALL LONG ENOUGH TO GET THE OUT THERE. YOU TELL ME. ALEX: HERE IS FULL SPEED. I THINK THE ANSWER IS NO BECAUSE I NEVER SAW REAL CONTROL. IT DOESN'T PASS THE EYE TEST. A LITTLE BIT TOO QUICK. FOR ME IT SHOULD BE FIRST AND SECOND, NO OUT. MATT: TWO REGRETTABLE DEFENSIVE MOMENTS FOR THE DODGERS IN THIS ONE ALREADY. IF YOU ARE MAX SCHERZER, YOU ARE SAYING, IT'S A GOOD THING YOU SCORED ME SIX RUNS. ALEX: THAT COST THEM THREE OUTS AND THAT WAS POSSIBLY A DOUBLE PLAY. MATT: IT HAS TO DRIVE MAX CRAZY BECAUSE SCHERZER, AS WE KNOW, HE IS, NO PUN INTENDED, A MAX EFFORT GUY. THAT ONE WILL FAIL. THE CALL IS UPHELD. AND THE METS HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY, THANKS TO SOME GENEROUS LOS ANGELES DEFENSE. CARRASCO IS GOING TO BAT HERE. WOULD YOU HAVE CONSIDERED SOMETHING ELSE, GIVEN THERE ARE RUNNERS ON? IS THIS YOUR BEST CHANCE TO GET BACK IN? ALEX: HERE COMES A BUNT. OBVIOUSLY ROJAS IS PLAYING THE LONG GAME. YOU MENTIONED A TOUGH STRETCH. HE WANTS CARRASCO TO GIVE HIM THREE OR FOUR INNINGS AT LEAST, NOT TO PUT HIM IN A TERRIBLE SITUATION FOR THE REST OF THIS WEEK COMING UP. MATT: IF THE METS WERE GOING TO BUNT HERE ANYWAY, WHY BURN A POSITION PLAYER? WHY MAKE THE MOVE IF YOU ARE GOING TO ASK THE NEXT GUY TO BUNT? ALEX: IF YOU GET A POSITION HITTER, HE WON'T BE BUNTING. MATT: DO YOU LIKE THE BUNT HERE OR DO YOU GO TO THE BENCH? ALEX: ROJAS HAS INFORMATION WE DO NOT HAVE, WHETHER THERE ARE GUYS WHO ARE HURT. HE KNOWS THE LIMITATIONS OF THE BALL THAT. IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET MAX SCHERZER, YOU GET HIM AND TRY TO GET THIS GAME BACK IN ORDER. MATT: A BALL AND A STRIKE THE COUNT TO CARRASCO. THE BUNT. MUNCY IS ON IT QUICKLY. HE WILL GO TO FIRST BASE TO GET THE SHORE OUT. CARRASCO WITH THE SAC BUNT, SECOND AND THIRD WITH TWO GONE. ALEX: VERY NICE BUNT HERE, GOOD TECHNIQUE. MUNCY SHOULDN'T HAVE EVEN LOOKED AT THIRD BASE HERE. HE DID THE RIGHT THING BY GETTING THE EASY OUT AT FIRST BASE. YOU DON'T WANT ANY TEMPTATION TO GO TO THIRD. RIGHT MOVE. MATT: TREA TURNER HAS HAD TO DO A NUMBER OF THINGS WORKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE INFIELD TONIGHT PREVIOUSLY UNFAMILIAR TO HIM. TURN A DOUBLE PLAY, COVER THE BACK AT FIRST. NOW IT IS BRANDON NIMMO, WHO OPENED THE FIRST INNING. ROLLED OUT TO SECOND BASE FOR TUCAST FROM THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES. >> I GOT THE FUNNEL CAKE. >> HOW GOOD IS THAT? >> VERY GOOD. >> I JUST GOT HERE AND YOU ARE ALREADY MAKING FUN OF ME. MATT: LITTLE LEAGUE CLASSIC COMING UP A WEEK FROM TONIGHT, ANGELS AND INDIANS. WE ALSO CAN'T WAIT FOR THE KIDS CAST. I MAY TAKE THE HEADSET OFF SO I CAN LISTEN TO THESE GUYS WORK ON ESPN2. SOME YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WILL BE MIC SIDE, INCLUDING MONET DAVIS, WHO HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THE GAME ALREADY. WE WILL BE WITH YOU ON ESPN AND THE KIDS CAST ON ESPN2 A WEEK FROM TONIGHT FOR THE ANGELS AND INDIANS. IMAGINE ALL THE LITTLE LEAGUERS WHO WILL BE THERE, MOVING AND EYEING -- OOHING AND AHHIN OVER SHOHEI OHTANI THE WAY ADULTS DO. JAKE REED IS THE NEW PITCHER FOR NEW YORK, INHERITING A 6-0 DEFICIT. HE WAS RECALLED FROM AAA SYRACUSE LAST WEEK AND IS NEW TO THE ORGANIZATION, WIRED OFF WAIVERS FROM THE RAYS -- ACQUIRED OFF WAIVERS FROM THE RAYS ON AUGUST 2. REED HAS BEEN WELL-TRAVELED THIS YEAR ALONE. SIX GAMES IN DODGER BLUE. ALEX: WITH REED COMING INTO THE GAME, IT MAKES IT EVEN MORE STRANGE THE LACK OF MOVEMENT FROM ROJAS TO EVEN PUT IN A PINCH HITTER. OBVIOUSLY NOT BUNTING WITH A ONE STRIKE, NOT IDEAL WHEN YOU ARE DOWN BY SIX. MATT: I THINK YOU STUMBLED ON IT WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE MOVE, IT WOULD BE EASY TO NITPICK IT AT THE SURFACE, BUT LOOK AT THE METS BENCH. THERE IS ONE INFIELDER. IT IS A POOR MAN'S BENCH. THAT WAS ROJAS'S ASSERTION, IT WAS TOO EARLY TO MAKE THAT MOVE THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED TWO CHANGES. ALEX: IF DEGROM WAS ACTUALLY HEALTHY, MAYBE HE COULD HAVE PINCH HIT AND GIVE IT A SHOT. BUT DEFINITELY LIMITED RESOURCES ON THAT BENCH. MATT: A BALL AND TWO STRIKES TO WILL SMITH, LEADING THINGS OFF IN THE DODGER HALF OF INNING NUMBER THREE. SMITH, TAYLOR, AND BELLINGER HERE. A BALL AND TWO STRIKES. 2-2 FROM REED. HE GOES FOR A CHASE WITH THAT FRISBEE SLIDER. DIDN'T GET ONE, FULL COUNT. ALEX: THIS REMINDS ME OF THE DALLAS COWBOYS BACK IN THE DAY WITH KEVAN SMITH. THEY RUN RIGHT, THEY RUN LEFT, BOOM. HOME RUN BALL TO IRVING. HOW MANY COUNTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, 0-2, 3-2? MATT: 3-2 TO SMITH AS THE BOUNCER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PAD GOES TO MCNEIL TO MAKE THE PLAY. ONE AWAY. IT'S GOING TO TURN INTO A HEAVIER LEFT FOR THE METS BULLPEN. IF THEY CAN GET ANYTHING CLOSE TO BULK OUT OF JAKE REED, ANYTHING CLOSE TO MULTIPLE INNINGS, IT WOULD BE A WIN AFTER CARLOS CARRASCO GOES ONLY TWO. READ, WELL-TRAVELED, A HANDFUL OF APPEARANCES THIS YEAR WITH THE DODGERS. A GUY WITH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ROOTS AS WELL. HE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN THE SAN DIEGO AREA, WHICH I BELIEVE IS WHERE REGGIE BUSH WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL. SOME MORE FOOTBALL AFTER YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT KEVAN SMITH. I THINK YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT ABOUT THAT, FELIX HIGH. 0-1 THE COUNT TO CHRIS TAYLOR, A STRIKEOUT VICTIM EARLIER TONIGHT. THREE IN THE FIRST, THREE IN THE SECOND FROM LOS ANGELES, AND IT'S 0-2 TO TAYLOR. GETTING BACK TO THE LITTLE LEAGUE CLASSIC THIS COMING WEEKEND IN WILLIAMSPORT, ANGELS AND INDIANS, WE TALKED ABOUT SHOHEI OHTANI BEING THERE, BEING AN INTERNATIONAL DRAW. IT IS A DOMESTIC GROUP OF LITTLE LEAGUERS THIS YEAR DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. IT HAS BEEN INTERNATIONAL IN THE PAST. THIS YEAR AND HOPEFULLY FOR ONE YEAR ONLY, JUST A U.S.-BASED COMPETITION IN WILLIAMSPORT. A SWING AND A MISS BY TAYLOR, SECOND TIME HE HAS STRUCK OUT TONIGHT. ALEX: IT HAS BEEN A GREAT, HISTORIC WEEK FOR BASEBALL. WE HAD AN UNBELIEVABLE FEW DAYS. THE FIELD OF DREAMS, A TREMENDOUS MATCHUP, YANKEES VERSUS WHITE SOX, GREAT GAME. THE DAY BEFORE, YOU HAD LITTLE LEAGUERS FROM CHICAGO AND NEW YORK IN QUEENS, A REALLY FUN GAME. A TREMENDOUS OUTCOME FOR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. MATT: IT LOOKED LIKE YOU HAD A LOT OF FUN. HOW COULD YOU NOT? PARDON THE POND, BUT THAT WAS A HOME RUN, THE WHOLE THING. ALEX: OBVIOUSLY I WATCHED THE MOVIE FIELD OF DREAMS WHEN I WAS ONLY 13 IN 1989 WHEN IT CAME OUT. YOU WATCH IT AGAIN IN YOUR 40'S AND IT MEANS SO MUCH MORE, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FATHER AND SON. FOR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, IT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE WITH A HOLLYWOOD ENDING. MATT: IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD NIGHT EVEN IF IT WAS A SLEEPY 6-0 DECISION. ANDERSON PUT A PUNCTUATION MARK AT THE END OF A WALKOFF WIN. FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME PLAYED IN IOWA IN THE FIELD OF DREAMS. WE LEARNED ABOUT CORN SWEAT, AMONG OTHER THINGS. WE GOT MATT: WELCOME BACK TO SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL, TELECAST PRESENTED BY TACO BELL. 6-0 LEAD FOR MAX SCHERZER AND HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO PRESERVE THAT WITH HIS OFFSPEED ARSENAL. ALEX: THE CHANGEUP AND FASTBALL, HIS GO TO PITCH IN THESE LEVERAGE SITUATIONS. LESS IS MORE. SCHERZER AT 37 IS BETTER TODAY THAN HE WAS AT 27, AND THE REASON WHY IS HE DOESN'T HAVE THREE PITCHES, HE HAS EXPENSES. HE IS COMPLETELY DEMOCRATIC, HE GETS RIGHTIES JUST AS EASY AS LEFTIES. HE DOESN'T WALK ANYONE. THIS GUY IS MORE VALUABLE TODAY THAN HE WAS 10 YEARS AGO, AND THAT'S HARD TO BELIEVE. MATT: BALL AND A STRIKE THE COUNT TO MICHAEL CONFORTO. CONFORTO, ALONZO, AND SMITH, 2, 3, 4, PART OF THE METS ORDER IN THE THIRD. THREE BALLS AND A STRIKE. NOT A SURPRISE THAT HIS FIRST THREE BALL COUNT WOULD COME AGAINST THE ONLY MET THAT HAS GIVEN HIM A HARD TIME OVER THE YEARS, CONFORTO. AND THERE IS BALL FOUR. WHAT DID THE DODGERS ACQUIRE WHEN THEY PULLED OFF THE DEAL WITH THE NATIONALS TO ACQUIRE TREA TURNER AND MAX SCHERZER? THESE ARE SOME OF THE ACCOLADES TO WIN THREE OR MORE BAMA CY YOUNG AWARD'S. ONE OF 35 IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME WITH MULTIPLE NO-HITTERS. ONE OF THEM CAME HERE AGAINST THE METS A FEW YEARS AGO, AND ONE OF ONLY FOUR WITH A 20 STRIKEOUT, NINE INNING GAME. YOU COULD RIGHTLY SAY MAX SCHERZER COULD RETIRE AT PUT HIS FEET UP TOMORROW AND HE WOULD HAVE A PLACE IN COOPERSTOWN. ALEX: NO DOUBT. WHAT'S MOST IMPRESSIVE HAS BEEN HIS EVOLUTION AS A PITCHER, GOING FROM THREE PITCHES TO SIX. AS A HITTER, THAT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BALLGAME. TO HAVE A FASTBALL, CURVEBALL, CUTTER, CHANGEUP, SINKER. HE COMES WITH A LOT. HE DOESN'T WALK YOU. LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE OPEN, MAX SCHERZER PLAYS EXACTLY HOW PETE ROSE USED TO RUN THE BASES. MATT: SHOOK OFF SMITH ONCE. AND THERE IS A SHOT OUT TO LEFT FIELD. TAYLOR ON THE MOVE AND HE CAN'T MAKE THE CATCH. CONFORTO BEING HELD AT THIRD. MAN, DID THAT GET OUT THERE QUICK. A DOUBLE FOR PETE ALONSO, ALMOST 110 MILES AN HOUR OFF THE BAT. ALEX: DAVID HITTING THE FASTBALL, 109 OFF THE BAT, AN ABSOLUTE ROCKET. GREAT EFFORT. SECOND AND THIRD WITH NO OUTS. MATT: SCHERZER WAS ABLE TO STRAND MULTIPLE BASE RUNNERS IN BOTH THE FIRST AND SECOND INNINGS TONIGHT. THIS IS THEIR BEST OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT TO GET ON THE SCOREBOARD. SECOND AND THIRD, NOBODY OUT. CHRIS TAYLOR ALMOST MADE A TERRIFIC CATCH ON THAT BALL. ALEX: INCREDIBLE EFFORT. IF YOU ARE SMITH, YOU HAVE TWO GOALS. ADVANCE THE MAN AT SECOND TO THIRD BASE. PULL THE BASEBALL, CONTACT EARLY. THE FIRST PITCH IN THE ZONE, DO NOT FOUL IT OFF. PUT IT IN PLAY. MATT: SMITH HAD ONE AWAY IN THE FIRST INNING AND POPPED OUT. A BALL AND A STRIKE TO HIM HERE. THE DOUBLE BY PETE ALONSO, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ENDED DID A ROUGH STRETCH FOR THE METS IN WHICH THEY WORK 0-25 WITH MEN ON BASE WOW -- BASE. ALEX: WOW. MATT: SMITH POPS IT AGAIN, THIS ONE HANDLED BY TURNER. ONE AWAY. YOU TALK ABOUT GETTING IN ON A GUY, IT IS JUST JAM SANDWICH. ALEX: HE HITS HIM WITH THE CHANGEUP AND GETS HIM WITH THE FASTBALL IN HERE. THAT'S JUST IN YOUR COCINA. ANOTHER BIG OUT FOR SURE IS ARE -- FOR SCHERZER. MATT: METS ARE NOW 2-22 WITH RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION IN THE SERIES. ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR JEFF MCNEIL, WHO FLIED OUT TO LEFT IN HIS FIRST TRY TONIGHT. WE TALKED ABOUT THE EXTRA STRESS PITCHES ON SCHERZER BECAUSE OF THE TWO BAT DEFENSIVE MOMENTS IN THIS GAME. HE HAD TO THROW SIX EXTRA PITCHES IN THE FIRST, FOUR IN THE SECOND. AT SOME POINT, NOT NOW BECAUSE WE ARE STILL EARLY, BUT AT SOME POINT THE FINISH LINE GETS CLOSER TO YOU BECAUSE OF THAT. ALEX: AND ALSO, DON'T FORGET -- MATT: METS ARE ON THE SCOREBOARD ON THE R.B.I. GROUNDBALL OFF THE BAT OF JEFF MCNEIL. 6-1 DODGER LEAD. ALEX: THE METS WITH ONLY 14 SACRIFICE FLIES ALL YEAR, BY FAR THE FEWEST IN THE MAJORS. MATT: MANY OF THESE SPECIAL HITTING SITUATIONS HAVE NOT GONE WELL FOR THE METS. RUNNERS ON, 25TH RANKED. BASES LOADED, 26TH IN THE SPORT. WE HAVE SEEN THOSE SCENARIOS PLAY OUT IN THIS SERIES. ALONZO ADVANCES TO THIRD, A RUN IN, TWO AWAY FOR J.D. DAVIS, WHO STRUCK OUT IN THE SECOND. ALEX: WHAT'S MOST CONCERNING ABOUT SOME OF THE DATA WE SAW, SOME OF THE STATS FOR THE METS, IT HAS VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH TALENT AND MORE TO DO WITH APPROACH, EXECUTION, AND CONCENTRATION. THAT'S WHAT'S CONCERNING. MATT: IT'S A TEAM THAT TURNED OVER HITTING INSTRUCTORS EARLY THIS SEASON IN THE HOPES OF CORRECTING THAT. WE LEARNED IT WASN'T THE HITTING COACHES' FAULT. ALEX: I HAVE NEVER HAD THAT IN MY CAREER SO I CAN'T SPEAK TO IT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU BASEBALL WITH A COACH IS A LOT WITH TRUST. THE BEST HITTING COACH I EVER HAD, I HAD TWO, THEY BECOME PART-TIME COACHES AND PART-TIME THERAPISTS AND YOU BUILD THIS FRIENDSHIP AND BOND. I HAVE NEVER BEEN A FAN OF IN SEASON CHANGES OF HITTING AND PITCHING COACHES. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO IN THEM THAT EMERGENT SITUATION, BUT AS A HITTER YOU WANT CONTINUITY. MATT: BALL AND A STRIKE TO J.D. DAVIS. HIGH GAS. THAT HAS WORKED ON HIM ALL NIGHT. STRUCK HIM OUT WITH THAT PITCH IN THE SECOND. LEADOFF WALK, A DOUBLE, AND A ONE OUT GROUND OUT THAT GOT THE METS ON THE BOARD IN THE THIRD. BALL AND TWO STRIKES. GOT HIM. BACK-TO-BACK ELEVATED FASTBALLS DO THE TRICK. NO FURTHER DAMAGE MATT: LOS ANGELES TRYING TO FIT -- FINISH OUT A RARE THREE-GAME SWEEP. THEY HAVE HAD SOME SUCCESS IN THIS BALLPARK. DAVE ROBERTS JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE SERIES HAS GONE SO FAR. OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE BENEFITING FROM SOME POWER TODAY. A COUPLE OF STRANGE DEFENSIVE MOMENTS. HOW DOES THAT AFFECTS A GUY -- AFFECT THE GUY LIKE SCHERZER? HE IS MAD MAX FOR A REASON. HOW DOES HE REACT TO THOSE THINGS BETWEEN INNINGS? >> NOT AT ALL. WE GIVE A COUPLE OF BASES AWAY. HE GOES BACK AND MAKES PITCHES. HE IS AS INTENSE AS THEY COME. THERE IS NOT A LOT OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN INNINGS. I HAVE A QUICK STORY. I CANNOT TALK TO HIM. I REMEMBER HIS FIRST START FOR BOTH, I PAT HIM ON THE BUTT COMING INTO THE DUGOUT. HE MUMBLED SOMETHING UNDER HIS BREATH. DID HE JUST SAY DO NOT TOUCH ME? I GOT THE SCOOP. DO NOT TOUCH HIM. HE DOES NOT WANT ANYONE TO TOUCH HIM. GOOD PLAY. AFTER THE GAME I SAID, DID YOU MUMBLE DON'T TOUCH ME? HE SAID I SAID IT IN THE MOST RESPECTFUL WAY. I DO NOT NEED ANY CONGRATULATIONS OR SO WORK. THIS IS MY JOB. I WILL NOT BE PATTING HIM ON THE BUTT. MATT: THAT IS THE WAY IT GOES. A FINE PLAY BY PETE ALONSO. ALEX: HOW MUCH IS HAVING A GUY LIKE JUSTIN TURNER BACK IN YOUR LINEUP, WHAT DOES IT DO TO THE OVERALL FEEL OF YOUR CLUBHOUSE? MATT: JUST HAVING HIM, THE WAY HE CONDUCTS HIMSELF. YOU CAN SEE. WE WANT TO GET HIM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIELD. HE HIT A HOME RUN. HE GIVES EVERYBODY A BOOST. YOU ARE GOING TO BRING YOUR A GAME. MATT: SPEAKING OF THAT, WE WILL LEAVE YOU ON THIS. TIM KURKJIAN AS PREDICTED A BASE HIT FOR MAX SCHERZER TONIGHT. DO YOU ENDORSE THAT SELECTION? >> I ABSOLUTELY DO. RIGHT NOW HE DOESN'T LOOK GOOD. I KEEP TELLING HIM, HE IS LIKE 0-43, HE IS DUE. AT SOME POINT HE IS GOING TO GET A KNOCK. THERE YOU GO. HE IS FIGHTING RIGHT NOW. MATT: THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AS ALWAYS. BEST OF LUCK THE REST OF THE WAY. 1-2 TO SCHERZER. 6-1 DODGERS LEAD. MAX IS BATTLING. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FROM THE OTHER DUGOUT. WE CAN ASK THAT OF FRANCISCO LINDOR. ARE YOU WATCHING HIM SWING THE BAT? >> YES. MATT: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT MAX. I KNOW YOU DO NOT LIKE FACING HIM AS A PITCHER. >> HE IS GRINDING RIGHT NOW. THAT WAS PRAY FOR OUR TEAM. MATT: HOW ARE YOU FEELING? I KNOW THE ROAD TO RECOVERY IS PROBABLY SLOWER THAN YOU WOULD LIKE. >> I AM MUCH BETTER TODAY THAN I WAS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. I AM GETTING THERE. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME AREA. ONE OF THOSE INJURIES THAT YOU CANNOT REALLY RUSH. I AM TRYING AS HARD AS I CAN TO GET BACK ON THE FIELD. THE TRAINERS ARE DOING OUTSTANDING. I CANNOT RUSH IT TOO MUCH. ALEX: WHAT IS HAPPENING? ARE YOU GOOD? IT IS INTERESTING, HOW EXCITED ARE YOU TO BE PLAYING WITH YOUR LONGTIME BUDDY JAVY BAEZ? YOU WERE DRAFTED BACK TO BACK AND YOU HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOREVER. >> I AM INCHING TO GET BACK ON THE FIELD WITH HIM. WE PLAYED TOGETHER. WE JOKE AROUND. WHO WILL PLAY SECOND AND WHO WILL PLAY SHORT? I AM A LITTLE BIT MORE BEAT UP THAN HIM, SO I WILL A SECOND MORE THAN HIM. MATT: WE HAVE SOME VIDEO OF YOU BEFORE THE GAME. WORKING OUT IN A FULL UNI. DO YOU ALWAYS DO THAT? >> I JUST DON'T HAVE ANYTHING BETTER TO WHERE -- WEAR. I AM TRYING TO SHOW THE TRAINERS THAT I DO NOT NEED REHAB GAMES. BUT THEY KNOW BETTER. MATT: THAT IS LIKE MY PARTNER, ALEX RODRIGUEZ. HE IS ALWAYS WEARING A SUIT WHEN HE GOES TO GET FAST FOOD IN THE MORNING. WE APPRECIATE THE VISIT. BEST OF LUCK GETTING BACK OUT THERE. BASE HIT BACK UP THE MIDDLE FOR TREA TURNER. HE IS 3-3 TONIGHT. WE ARE CREEPING UP ON FIFTH INNING FAST TALK. GRAB YOUR PHONE AND HEAD OVER TO OUR INSTAGRAM LIVE WHERE WE WILL BE ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS. BE SURE TO TUNE IN. YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS IT. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS MIGHT BE, HOW WOULD YOU GET TREA TURNER OUT ON A NIGHT LIKE TONIGHT? HE IS A BOARD T WITHWO AWAY FOR MAX MUNCY WHO HOMERED BACK IN THE SECOND. WE TALKED ABOUT THE HITTER'S PROFILE ON HIM THE LAST TIME HE WAS IN THERE. HE RANKS AMONG THE TOP SIX IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE IN WALKS, ON-BASE PERCENTAGE, AND O.P.S. YOU SAW THE POWER IN THE SECOND. IT IS AMAZING WHEN YOU CONSIDER HIS REALLY LOW SWING RATE. ALEX: TO YOUR POINT, I PLAYED WITH A GUY LIKE THAT, JASON GIAMBI. WHETHER HE WAS HITTING GOOD OR NOT, HE ALWAYS ADDED VALUE TO THE LINEUP. TURNER GETS SUCH A GREAT LOOK WITH MUNCY IN FRONT OF HIM. MATT: THERE YOU GO. THIS ONE IS RUNDOWN BY BRANDON NIMMO TO RETIRE THE, 1960 FIVE, OF THE BEATLES FAMED SHEA STADIUM CONCERT. THEY FILMED IT FOR A DOCUMENTARY. THAT IS WHY THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT IMAGES AND GREAT VIDEO OF THAT PARTICULAR PERFORMANCE. NOT EVERYONE OF THEM HAS SO MUCH FILM DEDICATED TO IT. THE BEATLES WERE GETTING TO THE END OF THE LINE AS STADIUM PERFORMERS. CALLING IT QUITS AFTER CANDLESTICK A YEAR LATER. JONATHAN VILLAR LEADS THINGS OFF. 6-1, DODGERS. JAKE READ LOOKING LIKE HE WILL HAVE A RARE PLACE APPEARANCE. 1-1 TO JONATHAN VILLAR. HE SINGLED IN THE SECOND. DODGERS HAVE LONG BEEN ADVOCATES OF THE INFIELD SHIFT. SOMETHING THAT IS RELATIVELY NEW TO THE METS. THEY DID NOT SHIFT A LOT LAST SEASON. AS FAR AS THIS YEAR IS CONCERNED, THESE ARE THE SHIFT HE ASKED -- SHIFTIEST TEAMS IN BASEBALL. ALEX: YOU TALK ABOUT TURNER HAVING TO MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT FROM SHORTSTOP TO SECOND BASE. A COUPLE OF REAL CHALLENGES. HOW DEEP YOU HAVE TO PLAY. MATT: TURNER CANNOT GET IT OUT OF HIS GLOVE. ALEX: HAVING TO PLAY IN SHALLOW RIGHT FIELD. THIS IS A PLAY HE HAS NEVER HAD TO MAKE IN HIS WHOLE CAREER. JUST TRIES TO RUSH A LITTLE BIT. MATT: MADE IT HARDER WHEN HE TRIED TO BLOW THE BUBBLE. ALEX: HE ALREADY HAS THREE HEADS -- HITS. MATT: HAD TO SWALLOW THE WHOLE THING, THE PLAY AND THE BUBBLEGUM. THAT WILL BE A BASE HIT FOR VILLAR. MAKE HIM 2-2 TONIGHT. ALEX: IT IS SO MUCH HARDER IN TODAY'S GAME TO ADJUST. MATT: THAT IS BACK TO SCHERZER. HE HAS TIME TO GET HIM AT FIRST BASE. THAT WORKED EFFECTIVELY AS A BUNT. CERTAINLY NOT WHAT MCCANN WAS AFTER. THE NEXT BATTER IS THE PITCHER. ALEX: THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT PLAY THAT SCHERZER MAY LOOK VERY EASY. RIGHT BEFORE HE GOES BAREHAND. A STRIKE TO FIRST BASE. SCHERZER IS THE TOTAL PACKAGE. MATT: CORNERS WILL CRASH IN ON JAKE REED, MAKING HIS FIRST PLATE APPEARANCE AT THE MAJOR-LEAGUE LEVEL. THIS IS A GUY WHO HAS ONLY HAD TWO CAREER MINOR LEAGUE APPEARANCES. BOTH CAME EARLIER THIS YEAR. COULD YOU ASK FOR A TOPPERS IS -- TOUGHER CIRCUMSTANCE THAN THIS? THE THROW TO FIRST IS TOO LATE. THE METS GOT OUT OF THAT ONE SOMEHOW. VILLAR AVOIDED THE TAG AT SECOND. BY THE TIME THE DODGERS TRIED TO GET THE HITTER, IT WAS TOO LATE. SEAGER OLAYED THE TAG AND THEN MUNCY DOUBLE CLUTCHED THE THROW TO THIRD. LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, JAKE REED GOT UP THE LINE AT 29.4 FEET PER SECOND. THAT IS ALMOST ELITE BASERUNNING SPEED. THE LEAGUE AVERAGE IS 27. HERE IS NIMMO. THE METS HAVE HAD SOME OF THE MOST UNLIKELY OPPORTUNITIES TONIGHT. ALEX: SHOWS UP EVERY DAY. THAT IS IMPRESSIVE. MATT: 1-1 TO BRANDON NIMMO. ALEX: THE DODGERS ARE NOT EXACTLY PUTTING ON AN EXHIBITION OF HOW TO THROW THE BASEBALL. MATT: THIS IS NOT BEEN A CLEAN NIGHT FOR LOS ANGELES, NOT BY A LONGSHOT. A COUPLE OF ERRANT PLAYS AT SECOND BY TURNER. A BAD DECISION BEHIND THE PLATE ON A THROW TO THE BASES. BUT THE DODGERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COVER UP THOSE BLEMISHES TONIGHT WITH THREE HOMERS AND MAX SCHERZER'S ABILITY TO PITCH OUT OF JAMS. 2-1 TO BRANDON NIMMO. 3-1 NOW. ALEX: ALONSO COULD BE THE TYING RUN. MATT: FULL COUNT. ALEX: THIS IS JUST NOT A PRODUCTIVE SWING. HE IS LATE. THAT LOOKS LIKE AN 0-2 SWING. YOU WANT TO GET THE BAT HEAD OUT , GET THAT BALL TO CENTER FIELD. NOT GOOD. MATT: CONFORTO NEXT WITH ONLY ONE AWAY. RUNNERS AT THE CORNERS. 3-2 PITCH. NIMMO IS REGULARLY AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS IN PITCHES PER PLATE APPEARANCE. THAT IS KIND OF AN OUTLIER ON A METS TEAM THAT AVERAGES 3.3 PITCHES PER PLATE APPEARANCE. SHOULD BE A CHANGEUP. THERE IS BALL FOUR. THAT WILL LOAD THE BASES. OUR FIRST APPEARANCE BY DODGER PITCHING COACH MARK PRIOR. NOT SOMETHING THAT MAX SCHERZER GENERALLY LIKES. AT SOME POINT, I KNOW THAT SCHERZER IS COMPOSED DESPITE THE DEFENSE BEHIND HIM, AT SOME POINT IT HAS TO GET TO A GUY. ALEX: THAT IS NOT CHAMPIONSHIP BASEBALL. THAT WILL BITE YOU BIG TIME IN OCTOBER. YOU WANT TO BE FINE TUNING TO BE ABLE TO BEAT THE BEST TEAMS. MATT: MAX ONLY THREW 54 PITCHES IN THAT RAIN SHORTENED START IN PHILLY ON TUESDAY. HE IS IN HIS TIGHTEST TO BIND YET. AGAIN IT IS CONFORTO WITH A CHANCE. EXACTLY THE KIND OF OPPORTUNITY METS FANS WERE HOPING FOR. HE HAS THE BEST TRACK RECORD AGAINST SCHERZER BY FAR. CONFORTO PUTS IT IN PLAY TO FIRST. THEY CAN SEE THE RUN. 6-2. SECOND AND THIRD, TWO GONE NOW. ALEX: VERY GOOD DECISION JUST GETTING THE OUT. HE THOUGHT BETTER OF IT. MATT: YOU WANT TO TRADE OUTS FOR OUTS FOR RUNS WITH SUCH A BIG LEAD. GOOD DECISION BY MAX MUNCY. MATT: PETE ALONSO NOW. HE HAS REACHED IN A FIELDER'S CHOICE AND DOUBLED. THE METS HAVE HAD THEIR OPPORTUNITIES TONIGHT. 1-13 WITH RUNNERS ON. 0-9 WITH RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION TONIGHT. REED AT THIRD, NIMMO AT SECOND. MIGHT BE THE FIRST TIME REED HAS BEEN AT THIRD BASE SINCE SANDLOT BALL. ALEX: HUGE AT BAT HERE FOR THE METS. MATT: 1-1 TO ALONSO. CHASED A SLIDER. HIS DOUBLE IN THE THIRD INNING WAS HIS 300TH CAREER HIT. SO MUCH FOR MILESTONES IN THE FACE OF A FOUR RUN DEFICIT. 1-2. HIGH FASTBALL IS FOULED AWAY. DOES THAT SET HIM UP FOR A SLIDER? ALEX: WITH A GUY LIKE SCHERZER ON THE MOUND, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TURNER A LITTLE BIT MORE STRAIGHT UP. PART FOR HIM TO GET AROUND ON A BASKETBALL. -- FASTBALL. MATT: GOT HIM LOOKING. BOTTOM OF THE ZONE BREAKING BALL. ENOUGH TO GET HIM OUT OF ANOTHER JAM. THE METS HAVE STRANDED SEVEN MATT: IT IS THE OTHER TEAM THAT THE METS HAVE TO DEAL WITH OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. THAT IS THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS. THEY HAVE BEEN TERRIFIC. POSEY, BELT, CRAWFORD HAVE BEEN FABULOUS. THE PITCHING HAS BEEN GREAT. GABE KAPLER HAS HIS GUYS IN THE CATBIRD SEAT IN THE N.L. WEST. ALEX: THEY HAVE NOT SLOWED DOWN. THEY ARE JUST PICKING UP STEAM. MATT: PEOPLE WAITING FOR THAT OTHER SHOE TO DROP. IT AIN'T DROPPIN'. THEY ARE LEGIT. ALEX: ABSOLUTELY. AND DANGEROUS. THEY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO KNOW HOW TO CLOSE WITH SOME OF THEIR VETERAN PLAYERS. MATT: JUSTIN TURNER LEADS THINGS OFF. TURNER, SEAGER, AND SMITH. REED WILL CONTINUE ON THE MOUND. JUSTIN TURNER HAS HOMERED AND WALKED. HIS FIRST START SINCE AUGUST 8. BEHIND 0-2. LET'S TAKE YOU BACK TO THE BIG BALL IN THE FIRST. ALEX: IT WAS A SLIDER. HE WAS LOOKING FOR IT. DELIVERING THE BLOW. SETTING THE TONE FOR THIS GAME. YOU LOOK AT THAT AT-BAT AND YOU WANT TO SAY WHAT IS THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO TEAMS BESIDES PAYROLL? IT IS THE QUALITY OF AT-BATS IN LEVERAGE SITUATION. THERE IS A LACK OF MATURITY FOR THE METS. INCREDIBLE MATURITY FOR THE DODGERS. PATIENCE AND CONVICTION. MATT: BECAUSE YOU WENT THERE, LET'S GO TO THE PAYROLL COMPONENT OF THAT DISCUSSION. EIGHT STRAIGHT DIVISION TITLES, A WORLD SERIES LAST YEAR. DAVE ROBERTS HAS BEEN ON THE GIG FOR FIVE YEARS. THE DODGERS HAVE BENEFITED FROM SOME UNPRECEDENTED PAYROLL LARGESSE. THEY HAVE PULLED EVEN WITH THE YANKEES. ONE HOPPER FOR VILLAR. YOU ARE WITH THE YANKEES FOR SOME OF THAT. THE DODGERS HAVE ABSOLUTELY BLOWN PAST THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING TAX THRESHOLD. THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY CLOSE TO $30 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL TAXES ON TOP OF THE ENORMOUS PAYROLL. ANY CLUB THAT EXCEEDS THE THRESHOLD BY MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS, AND THE DODGERS HAVE, IS TAXED AT A NEAR 43% RATE ON THOSE OVERAGES. I KNOW FANS DO NOT REALLY CARE ABOUT THAT KIND OF STUFF. BUT THE DODGERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO OUTSPEND WHATEVER INJURIES OR SUBPAR PERFORMANCES MAY HIT THEM ON ANY GIVEN YEAR. BASE HIT OUT TO RIGHT FOR COREY SEAGER. ALEX: THEY ARE A BIG MARKET TEAM. THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER BIG MARKET TEAMS THAT DO NOT RUN THEIR ORGANIZATION THIS WELL. UNDER THE PREVIOUS OWNERSHIP, THIS WAS NOT. A GREAT PLACE TO GO PLAY. GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO THE NEW OWNERSHIP. THEY HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB OF TURNING THIS THING INSIDE OUT. THEY HAVE BECOME THE NEW YORK YANKEES OF THE WEST COAST. MATT: ONE OUT, ONE ON FOR WILL SMITH. ALEX: THEY HAVE TREMENDOUS RESOURCES. MATT: IT IS A <u>% PY</u> $275 MILLION. THAT IS ALMOST $65 MILLION NORTH OF THE NEXT CLOSEST ON THE LIST, THE RED SOX. IT WOULD BE ONE THING IF THEY HAD THAT KIND OF PAYROLL AND THEY WERE IN WORTH PLACE AND READY TO PACK THEIR BAGS. BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE. THIS IS A TEAM THAT IS BUILT TO WIN THE WORLD SERIES. ALEX: THEY ARE CHESLOR'S. THEY DO NOT PLAY CHECKERS. THEY DO NOT PLAY BIG MISTAKES. THEY ARE DOING A LOT OF SMART THINGS. THE OWNERSHIP IS ALL IN, MAKING SMART MOVES. MATT: 3-0 TO WILL SMITH. WE SAW TREA TURNER A MOMENT AGO. SEAGER IS THE ONLY IMPENDING FREE AGENT THAT THEY HAVE AT THAT POSITION. TALK ABOUT AN INSURANCE POLICY. ON THE CORNER TO GET BACK TO A FULL COUNT. ALEX: TREA TURNER, A VERY DYNAMIC PLAYER. VERY INTELLIGENT YOUNG MAN. HUNGRY. A TREMENDOUS APPETITE TO GET BETTER. HE IS A FRANCHISE PLAYER. THAT WAS A WHOPPER OF A GET FOR THE DODGERS. MATT: IN THE AIR OUT TO RIGHT. TWO AWAY. ALEX: YOU ARE SEEING A TIRED TEAM WITH THE NEW YORK METS. THEIR GAME AGAINST THE DODGERS. THEY ARE READY TO GET THE HECK OUT OF TOWN. MATT: NO REST FOR THE WEARY. BOTH TEAMS ARE HEADED WEST AFTER THIS SERIES IS OVER. THE DODGERS ARE GOING BACK HOME. THE METS ARE OFF TO SAN FRANCISCO. THIS IS BRUTAL. WHAT A GAUNTLET. 13 STRAIGHT AGAINST THE TWO BEST TEAMS IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE. ALEX: NO DE GROM, NO LINDOR, NO BAEZ. FACING THE TOUGHEST PART OF YOUR SCHEDULE WITHOUT YOUR BEST ROSTER. MATT: A SWING AND A MISS. DID YOU USE TO GO THROUGH A REMAINING SCHEDULE? WOULD YOU GO THROUGH AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE MATH OF HOW MANY REMAINING GAMES YOU HAVE TO WIN TO GET TO WHATEVER YOU PROJECT TO GO TO THE POSTSEASON? ALEX: I NEVER THOUGHT THAT FAR AHEAD. I WOULD BE GETTING TIRED AND WORN DOWN. GOING OUT TO THE WEST COAST, YOU CATCH A BREATHER. IT IS A WELCOME SIGHT TO GET OUT OF HERE. AND NOT BE PLAYING THE DODGERS. MATT: THEY WILL SEE THEM AGAIN IN A FEW DAYS. 0-2 TO CHRIS TAYLOR. THE DODGERS HAVE BEEN VERY COMFORTABLE IN THIS BALLPARK OF LATE. PUT THEIR FEET UP ON THE FURNITURE AT CITI FIELD. 12-1 SINCE MAY OF 2016. SWING BY TAYLOR. A SCORELESS INNING BY REED MATT: DOWNLOAD THE MLB AT TO GET HIGHLIGHTS. FOR YOUR FAVORITE TEAM AND THE REST OF THE LEAGUE. NICE NIGHT FOR BASEBALL. NICE CROWD AT CITI FIELD. DOM SMITH ROLLS ONE FELL. THE METS STRANDED TWO IN THE FIRST, TWO IN THE SECOND ON A ONE IN THE THIRD METOO MORE IN THE WORTH -- TWO MORE IN THE FOURTH. THIS IS THE FIRST 0-2 COUNT THE METS HAVE BEEN IN TONIGHT. ALEX: I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT. MATT: QUICK WORK OF DOM SMITH. ALEX: SCHERZER ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE TOTAL PACKAGE. A COUPLE OF HEATERS UP TOP. A LOT OF CONVICTION. FIELDING HIS POSITION LIKE A GOLD GLOVE SHORTSTOP. A STRIKE TO FIRST BASE. IF YOU GUYS CANNOT CATCH IT AND THROW IT, I WILL DO IT MYSELF. [LAUGHTER] MATT: HERE'S JEFF MCNEIL. WE TALKED ABOUT HIM BEING A FIRST PITCH GUY. FIRST PITCH POP FOR SEAGER TO MAKE THE CATCH. ONE OF THOSE SHIFTS WERE JUSTIN TURNER WHEN AROUND TO SECOND BASE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME TONIGHT THAT THE METS HAVE FAILED TO PUT ONE OF THEIR FIRST TWO HITTERS IN AN INNING ON BASE. SCHERZER HAS A CHANCE AT HIS FIRST 1-2-3 INNING. PART OF THE MAX SCHERZER COOPERSTOWN ROLL CALL, IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THREE CY YOUNG AWARD'S, THE MULTIPLE NO-HITTERS, THE 20 STRIKEOUT GAME. FOR ME, HE CAME IN THE 2019 WORLD SERIES, WHEN HE WOKE UP SCHEDULED TO PITCH GAME FIVE AGAINST THE ASTROS AND COULD NOT MOVE HIS SHOULDER. AFTER A COUPLE OF CURIOUS DAYS OF THERAPY, SOME OF WHICH WAS KIND OF EXPERIMENTAL, HE DID EVERYTHING TO GET BACK OUT THERE. HE WAS ABLE TO PITCH IN GAME SEVEN. A HUGE PART OF WHY THE NATIONALS WERE FIRST -- ABLE TO WIN THEIR FIRST-EVER WORLD SERIES TITLE. IT ACCOMPLISHED WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO. ALEX: VERY SELDOM DO YOU SIGN A VERY LARGE CONTRACT AND OVER PERFORM. WELL DONE BY SCHERZER. MATT: HE SIGNED A CONTRACT TO BECOME A NATIONAL IN 2015. HIS MAJOR LEAGUE RANKS, HE IS TOP THREE ACROSS-THE-BOARD EVERYWHERE. MOST INNINGS PITCHED, HIGHEST STRIKEOUT TOTAL. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT DEAL WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY. EASY FOR US TO SAY. I THINK THEY WOULD AGREE. EVERYBODY WOULD AGREE. FIRST 1-2-3 INNING OF THE BALLGAME WITH A COUPLE OF STRIKEOUTS TO BOOT. THE DODGERS CONTINUE TO MATT: IT HAS BEEN A GOOD SERIES FOR CODY BELLINGER. HE HAS DOUBLED TONIGHT AND PERHAPS HE IS GETTING CLOSER TO THAT IMPACT THEY ARE THAT HE WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. ALEX: WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT BEING ON TIME OR BEING LATE. WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN? LET'S SHOW YOU. HE WAS STRUGGLING. SUPER LATE. THE BALL IS ALL OVER HIM. YOU BECOME THE PREY, NOT THE PREDATOR. LET'S SHOW YOU EARLIER THIS MONTH WHEN HE IS ON TIME. LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE. SAME PITCH, FASTBALL UP ON THE RIGHT. STRIKEOUT ON THE LEFT. SIMPLY HAVE TO BE ON TIME. MATT: WE TALKED TO DAVE ROBERTS AND HE ALLUDED TO EXACTLY THAT. WAITING DOUBT, THE EARLY. -- WHEN IN DOUBT, BE EARLY. GET READY TO HIT. MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR ANY TALL GUY WITH LONG ARMS, IT IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO BE ON TIME. FOR A SHORTER GUY LIKE TAYLOR, IT IS A LOT EASIER. THAT BARREL IS CATCHING UP. ON TIME, BARREL ON TOP, HEAD DOWN, BAM. 0-2 FROM THE NEW MET PITCHER, DIAZ. MAKING HIS 17TH APPEARANCE OF THE YEAR. HE HAS BEEN REALLY RELIABLE OF LATE. TRYING TO HOLD THIS DEFICIT AT FOUR IN THE LATE STAGES THIS EVENING. METS TRYING TO PREVENT A SWEEP HERE AT HOME. BELLINGER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT ONE BACK. A SWING AND A MISS. ALEX: HE NEEDED SOME OF THIS. HE WAS LATE. HE WAS RUSHING. THE BALL IS KIND OF CRAWLING UP THE BARREL. HE IS THE PREY, NOT THE PREDATOR. WHEN YOU ARE ON TIME, YOU DELIVER THE BLOW. RIGHT NOW, HE IS TAKING THE BLOW. HOW DO YOU FIX IT? YOU GET IN THE CAGE AND COME OUT EARLY AND GET THE HEATER MACHINE GOING. 95-105. YOU MOVE UP TO ABOUT 45 FEET. BARRY BONDS AND CARLOS BELTRAN DID THIS BETTER THAN ANYONE. THAT ACTIVATES THE BARREL. YOUR PRACTICE HAS TO BE TOUGHER THAN YOUR GAME. MATT: DID YOUR VOICE JUST CHANGE? ALEX: I'M GETTING FIRED UP. I AM THINKING ABOUT LOU PINIELLA AND THE WAY HE TALKED ME -- TO ME. MATT: I GET THAT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE NOT BEEN THE M.V.P. SEASON OF 2019. THE SHOULDER SURGERY AND THE REHAB, THAT IS A REAL THING. DAVE ROBERTS TALKED ABOUT THIS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO IN A DIFFERENT CONTEXT. I ASKED HIM ABOUT BELLINGER. HE SAID HE PLAYED WITH A COUPLE OF GUYS WITH THAT SIMILAR SURGERY. BILLY MCKINNEY HITS THE BALL TO RIGHT FIELD. ON HIS WAY TO THIRD. A ONE-OUT TRIPLE. ALEX: HE HAS BEEN HITTING THE BALL HARD ALL NIGHT. MAYBE A LITTLE MIXUP THERE RIGHT BEFORE THE FENCE. THAT IS ONE HE SHOULD HAVE HAD. SHOULD BE TWO OUTS RIGHT NOW. MATT: A SWEET FEELING THAT HAS TO BE FOR BILLY MCKINNEY, WHO HAS BEEN TRADED TWICE THIS YEAR, INCLUDING FROM THE METS TO THE DODGERS. HERE HERE IS SCHERZER. HE IS UNBELIEVABLE. HE TOLD BILLY MCKINNEY, DO NOT TOUCH ME, JUST LIKE HE TOLD DAVE ROBERTS. LIKE THE CHARACTER FROM STRIPES. DON'T TOUCH ME. TREA TURNER IS IN THE MIDST OF A PERFECT NIGHT. [LAUGHTER] ALEX: HE DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT HIM. MATT: IF YOU STARE AT HIM, YOU WILL TURN INTO A PILLAR OF SALT. [LAUGHTER] 2-2 TO TREAT TURNER. ALEX: THE METS HAVE NOT HAD A TRIPLE IN NINE WEEKS. MATT: THE DODGERS HAVE SCORED FOUR RUNS IN THIS SERIES ALONE ON THE SAC FLY. IT IS A FULL COUNT TO TURNER, 3-2. BOTH TURNERS HAVE PLAYED PROMINENT ROLES IN THE 7-2 LEAD TONIGHT. 3-2 PITCH. LOST HIM ON BALL FOUR. GIVES US A CHANCE TO REMIND YOU THAT PLAY BALL IS THE INITIATIVE TO HIGHLIGHT WAYS TO PLAY THE GAME. FIND A LEAGUE NEAR YOU. FOLLOW ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK, AND INSTAGRAM. ALEX: 27 SAC FLYS FOR THE DODGERS. MATT: HERE IS MAX MUNCY. HE STRUCK FOR A TWO RUN HOMER IN THE SECOND. THERE GOES TREA TURNER ON THE FIRST PITCH. THE DUDE CAN FLY. ALEX: A DYNAMIC PLAYER WITH POWER AND SPEED. THREE HITS ALREADY. AND NOW I STOLEN BASE -- A STOLEN BASE. MATT: 2-0 TO MUNCY. IF YOU NEED PROOF, SPRINT SPEED OF 32.4 FEET PER SECOND. THE 11 FASTEST RUNS FOR THE DODGERS THE SEASON, AND HE HAS BEEN ACTIVE FOR LIKE A WEEK. MUNCY OUT TO LEFT CENTER FIELD. SAME RESULT. SECOND TWO RUN DINGER OF THE NIGHT FOR MAX MUNCY. THE CHANGEUP. ALMOST THE EXACT SAME SPOT. THE DODGERS ARE PUTTING ON AN ABSOLUTE HITTING CLINIC HERE AT CITI FIELD TONIGHT. WOW! MATT: THE FOURTH DODGER HOMER OF THE GAME, THE SECOND BY MUNCY. 9-2, LOS ANGELES. ALEX: WE WERE HERE EARLIER THIS YEAR. MUNCY WALKED FIVE TIMES. HE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THE NATIONAL LEAGUE IN ON-BASE PERCENTAGE. IF HE DOES, THAT WILL BE THE FIRST DODGER IN OVER 30 YEARS SINCE PEDRO GUERRERO. MATT: 3-0 TO JUSTIN TURNER. THE DODGERS ARE THREATENING TO TURN THIS ONE INTO A LAUGHER. THERE IS BALL FOUR. WE TALKED ABOUT THE OFFENSE WEARING YOU DOWN. THE DODGERS DO NOT GET ANY AT-BATS AWAY. THE WALK AND THEN THE TWO RUN HOME RUN. MATT: ANOTHER VISIT BY THE PITCHING COACH. IF ANY ADVANCED SCOUTS FROM INNING NATIONAL LEAGUE POSTSEASON TEAMS ARE WATCHING, NO MORE CHANGEUPS OR SPLITS TO MAX MUNCY WITH TWO STRIKE COUNT S. ANDY WILL NOT CHASE. SO YOU BETTER THROW A STRIKE. ALEX: A DYNAMIC LEADOFF HITTER WITH SPEED. AND THEN BEHIND HIM TURNER. THEY CAN ALL PRODUCE AND CONTROL THE STRIKE ZONE. MATT: HE REALLY IS A NIGHTMARE TO PITCH TO. ALEX: A LOT OF LIKE IN HIS OFFENSE. HE IS NOT JUST A ONE TRICK PONY. VERY DISCIPLINED. THEY PASS THE BATON. THEY HAVE MORE WAYS THAN JUST HOME RUNS TO BEAT YOU. THEY HAVE SHOWED THAT TONIGHT. MATT: ININE RUNS ON 10 HITS, AND MOOKIE BETTS IS ON THE I.L. HERE IS COREY SEAGER. BOUNCER FOR MCNEIL TO FINALLY WRAP UP ANOTHER THREE RUN INNING. ASCENDED A BASEBALL PRESENTED BY TACO BELL IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY MIDAS. TIRES, BRAKES, OIL, EVERYTHING. QUADRA HOMERS BY THE DODGERS INCLUDING A PAIR OF TWO-RUN SHOTS BY MAX MUNCY. GREAT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ACTION COMING UP ON ESPN, A'S AND WHITE SOX TOMORROW. RED SOX-YANKEES ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. BUSTER ONLY AND I BACK IN THE FOLD FOR THE LITTLE LEAGUE CLASSIC, THE ANGELS AND INDIANS. JONATHAN VILLAR LEADS OFF THE HOME SIXTH AGAINST MAX SCHERZER. AT ONE POINT, THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT A POSSIBLE DODGERS-METS POSTSEASON MEETING. THERE ARE STILL SOME PEOPLE OPTIMISTIC THAT MIGHT HAPPEN. THERE IS BEEN THREE OF THEM OVER THE YEARS. JONATHAN VILLAR FOULS THAT AWAY. THE FIRST OF WHICH, 1988. IT TOOK SEVEN GAMES FOR OREL HERSHISER AND THE DODGERS TO TAKE CARE OF THE NEW YORK METS, WHO WERE ONLY TWO YEARS REMOVED FROM A WORLD SERIES TITLE. THE DODGERS WENT ON TO UPEND THE HEAVILY FAVORED IT OAKLAND A'S. THAT WAS OREL'S YEAR. HE WAS UNHITTABLE THAT SEASON. GOOD SEVEN-GAME LCS. 2-2 THE COUNT TO JONATHAN VILLAR. ALEX: I WILL NEVER FORGET, I SAW TOMMY LASORDA. MY FIRST TIME ON A PROFESSIONAL BE A -- PROFESSIONAL FIELD WAS AT VERO BEACH, 1993. THE MARINERS HAD NUMBER ONE. I WENT OUT FOR A TRYOUT. DOWN THE ROAD IN VERO BEACH. IT WAS A SPRING TRAINING GAME. THE DUGOUTS HAD NO COVERS. YOU COULD SEE RIGHT THROUGH BOTH DUGOUTS. AFTER THE GAME, TOMMY LASORDA THREW ME BATTING PRACTICE. IT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST IMPACTS OF MY CAREER. TOMMY LASORDA WAS SO KIND, SO COMPLEMENTARY. JUST LETTING WE WEAR THAT DODGER FOR HALF AN AFTERNOON WAS A MOMENT I WILL NEVER FORGET. THEN OF COURSE, THE DODGERS DRAFTED STRIPER AND THE MARINERS DRAFTED ME. >> WICHITA STATE GUY. I REMEMBER SEEING HIM PITCH IN DOUBLE-A, HE WAS THROWING A 93 MILE PER HOUR SLIDER AS A 17-YEAR-OLD, 18-YEAR-OLD KID. ALEX: AND A GREAT HITTER. TWO-WAY PLAYER. MATT: THERE ARE CERTAIN NAMES, LIKE WHENEVER YOU HEAR THE NAME CHIPPER JONES, YOU HEAR IT IN SKIP CARAY'S VOICE. THAT IS WHAT YOU HEAR. WHENEVER I HEAR THE NAME DARREN TRY FOR, HERE IT IN ROSS PORTER'S VOICE. HE SPENT MANY YEARS ALONGSIDE VIN SCULLY IN THE DODGERS RADIO BOOTH. 0-2 JAMES MCCANN. ALEX: WHAT ELSE YOU GOT IN THERE? ANY VIN SCULLY? MATT: THERE IS A LOT OF VIN. TWO AND TWO TO HARVEY KANE. ALEX: HE IS ABSOLUTELY THE GREATEST. MATT: LINED OUT TO RIGHT FOR MCKINNEY. >> IT IS THAT TIME OF THE YEAR, THE BIG PLAYS AND THE HOMETOWN IS GOING CRAZY. LET'S HIT SOME DINGERS AND THROW SOME HEAT. THE LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP. MATT: GOOD TO HAVE A PINCH HITTER HERE. IT IS TRAVIS BLANKENHORN, WHO WAS RECALLED FROM TRIPLE-A SYRACUSE LAST WEEK. BLANKENHORN WAS A WAIVER CLAIM OFF OF SEATTLE'S ROSTER IN JUNE. HE HAS BEEN WELL-TRAVELED. AT ONE POINT THIS YEAR, DODGER PROPERTY. THEY HAD HIM FOR ABOUT A WEEK. ALEX: YOU HEAR THE AIRPLANES GOING BY. AS A KID, WATCHING THE METS, THEY WERE MY FAVORITE TEAM. ONE OF THE BEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE WAS SITTING IN MY MOM'S BEDROOM WHEN SHE WAS AT WORK, SEEING THE BALL GO THROUGH BILL BUCKNER'S LEGS. THE AIRPLANES REMIND ME OF KEITH HERNANDEZ. EVERY TIME THE PLANES WOULD GO OVER, HE WOULD STEP OUT, TAKE THE HELMET OUT. KEITH WAS THE MAN, NO BATTING GLOVES, NO WRISTBANDS, AND THE CAPTAIN. HE WAS THE FINAL PIECE TO THAT 1986 TEAM. SUCH A FUN ERA FOR BASEBALL AND OBVIOUSLY A GREAT TIME FOR THE NEW YORK METS. MATT: LITTLE GLIMPSES OF THAT HERE IN THE NEW BALLPARK. BACK IN 2015, MATT: MLB.TV, WATCH ALL OUT OF MARKET REGULAR SEASON GAMES LIVE OR ON-DEMAND. VISIT MLB.TV FOR DETAILS. MAX CAN FINALLY KIND OF EXHALE AND ENJOY THE FRUITS OF A TERRIFIC START AGAIN TONIGHT. ALEX: HE DOES NOT GET OUT OF GAME FACE MODE UNTIL HE IS DONE. HE WILL STAY COMPLETELY LOCKED IN. KIND OF CRACKED A SMILE THERE. MATT: SIX INNINGS ON THE PITCHING SUMMARY. SEVEN STRIKEOUTS. PITCHED OUT OF A COUPLE OF JAMS. NO FEWER THAN THREE POOR DEFENSIVE PLAYS BEHIND HIM, YET HE WAS ABLE TO MAIL THE DODGERS OUT ON EACH OCCASION. NEW PITCHER FOR THE METS. RIGHT-HANDER GEOFF HARTLIEB WAS RECALLED FROM SYRACUSE. ALEX: ONE OF 60 METS TO WHERE THE UNIFORM THIS YEAR. IT HAS BEEN THE YEAR OF THE INJURY FOR THE NEW YORK METS. MATT: WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF THOSE STORIES WITH DIFFERENT CLUBS THIS YEAR. A LOT OF IT MAKES SENSE, COMING OFF THE 60 GAME SHORTENED SCHEDULE LAST YEAR. THERE BEEN MORE SOFT TISSUE INJURIES THIS YEAR THAT WE CARE TO EVEN GO THROUGH. A LOT OF BODIES HAVE BEEN USED LEAGUE-WIDE. MAX FINALLY IN RELAX MODE. WE GOT OUT HERE EARLY TODAY. WHEN MAX STARTS LOCKING IN, HE GOES THROUGH A LOT OF EXERCISES IN THE BULLPEN WITHOUT THE BASEBALL. YOU WILL SEE HIM SIMULATING HIS DELIVERY WITHOUT A GLOVE ON, WITHOUT A BASEBALL. ALEX: GETS AWAY, 97 MILES PER HOUR, RIGHT ABOVE THE PAD. IT ALWAYS MISSES THAT PAD. MATT: THE STORY OF ACHILLES HEEL, RIGHT? ALEX: FOR THE METS, THIS WAS A SHOW ME SERIES, THEY WERE JUST TWO SWINGS AWAY FROM BEING UP 2-0. MATT: 0-1 THE COUNT OF CHRIS TAYLOR, WHO HAS STRUCK OUT TONIGHT THREE TIMES. 0-2. LET ME ASK YOU THIS. JUST AS YOUR OPINION. SAY KERSHAW COMES BACK AND HE IS 100%, NO GOVERNOR ON HIM, HOW DO YOU LINE THESE GUYS UP FOR A POSTSEASON SERIES? SAY EVERYONE IS HEALTHY. HOW DO YOU COOK UP A ROTATION FOR THE POSTSEASON? ALEX: SHARES ARE, KERSHAW, BUEHLER. I WANT TO GO RIGHT E-LEFTY -- I WANT TO GO RIGHTY -LEFTY-RIGHTY-LEFTY. AS A HITTER, IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT. MATT: I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD CHAMPION WALKER BUEHLER AS THE NUMBER ONE. MAKE A CASE FOR THAT. I GUESS YOU ARE SEPARATING THE TWO RIGHTY AND LEFTIES FOR SURE. ALEX: WHAT I LEARNED FROM THE GREAT JOE TORRE, NUMBER ONE, I WILL PICK EXPERIENCE OVER TALENT. AS A 37-YEAR-OLD, THE EXPERIENCE AND THE TALENT. JOE TORRE ALL -- JOE TORRE ALWAYS TAUGHT US THAT GAME THREE WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE WINNER OF GAME THREE USUALLY GOES ON TO WIN THE SERIES. TO YOUR POINT ABOUT BUEHLER BEING THE CY YOUNG GUY, IF HE IS YOUR GUY AND HE IS NOT GOING TO PITCH ONE. MATT: BELLINGER NOW. ALEX: GIVE ME YOUR THREE. MATT: I AM A CLASSIC FLIP-FLOP OR. I WILL TALK MYSELF INTO ANYTHING. THIS IS KERSHAW'S STAFF. AS LONG AS HE IS IN UNIFORM, IT WILL BE HIS STAFF. I AM ONE FOR THE PAGEANTRY OF THAT. I WILL SAY KERSHAW NUMBER ONE. ALEX: NUMBER TWO AND THREE? MATT: MIX THEM UP IN A HAT AND I AM FINE WITH IT. ALEX: THAT IS SO WEAK. THAT YOU SOUND LIKE A HEDGE FUNDER. GIVE ME SOMETHING. MATT: SCHERZER, KERSHAW, BUEHLER, AND THEN URIAS AS A SECRET WEAPON. ALEX: YOU JUST REPEATED WHAT I SAID? MATT: I SHOULD HAVE GONE FIRST. 0-2 PITCH, SWUNG ON AND MISSED. SECOND TIME BELLINGER HAS STRUCK OUT TONIGHT. ALEX: BELLY JUST DOES NOT FULLY HAVE HIS LEGS UNDERNEATH HIM. HE IS LATE. YOU SEE HIM BACK ON HIS HEELS. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ONE OF THE GREATEST ATHLETES IN OUR GAME, HOW HAS TREMENDOUS POWER. HE NEEDS TO GET BACK AND REALLY SINK IN. MATT: THE VELO GIVING HIM A HARD TIME. 26 STRIKEOUTS IN 36 PLATE APPEARANCES WITH PITCHES ENDING UP 95 OR HOTTER. ALEX: WE SING IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN ABOUT BEING ON TIME. WHEN YOU ARE A TALL GUY, YOU HAVE LONG ARMS, YOU THINK ABOUT GUYS LIKE KIRK GIBSON, EVEN DAVE WINFIELD, MYSELF, DEREK JETER. LONG ARMS, IT IS VITAL TO BE ON TIME. MATT: 2-1 TO MCKINNEY. ALEX: WE WILL SHOW YOU WHAT IT MEANS TO BE LATE. HE LOSES THE BARREL UNDERNEATH. ON THE RIGHT SIDE, HIS M.V.P. YEAR, THE BARREL IS ALWAYS ON TOP AND ON TIME. THE DODGERS, THIS GUY IS A WORLD-CLASS SUPREME TALENT. GET IN THE CAGE, GET THAT FOOT DOWN. WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME. GUESS WHAT? IF YOU HAVE GOT TO GET GAS 45 FEET, YOU HAVE TO STAY UP TALL AND THAT BARREL ALWAYS STAYING UP TOP. >> SWING AND A MISS. THE THROW. COMMANDING LEAD TONIGHT AS WE ENTER THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE SEVENTH. BUSTER WILL BE BACK WITH US NEXT WEEK IN WILLIAMSPORT. THE NEWEST DODGER TO MAKE HIS DEBUT, HE WAS JUST ACTIVATED TODAY. FIVE APPEARANCES FOR DARIAN NUNEZ. HE WAS ACTIVATED JUST BEFORE FIRST PITCH TONIGHT AND MISSED SEVEN GAMES ON THE IL. SPENT SOME TIME AT DOUBLE-A TULSA, TRIPLE-A KANSAS CITY. ZACH MCKINSTRY WAS OPTIONED DOWN. THE CUBAN-BORN LEFT-HANDER, THE TOP OF THE ORDER. HE GETS A SEVEN RUN LEAD TO WORK WITH. ALEX: TWO PITCHES, FASTBALL AND CHANGEUP. MATT: NINE RUNS ON 10 HITS, AND ERROR FOR LOS ANGELES. FOUR HOMERS IN THEIR ATTACK TONIGHT. BOTH TEAMS HEADED TO THE WEST COAST AS SOON AS THIS ONE IS OVER. THE DODGERS BACK HOME AND THE METS OUT TO SAN FRANCISCO. 3-1 TO BRANDON NIMMO. HE STARTED -- WE STARTED OUT TONIGHT TALKING ABOUT HOW THE METS LINEUP WAS AVERAGING JUST 3.5 RUNS PER GAME AT HOME THIS YEAR. THERE IS BALL FOUR. A GOOD TAKE ON 3-1. AGAIN, IT IS A ROSTER THAT IS WITHOUT SOME OF ITS BIG THUNDER. SINCE 2015, THE WORLD SERIES YEAR, THEY HAVE BEEN A BETTER OFFENSE AWAY FROM CITI FIELD THAN THEY HAVE AT HOME. I WOULD ALMOST BE WILLING TO WRITE SOME OF THAT OFF AS COINCIDENCE. THEY HAVE BROUGHT THE OUTFIELD DIMENSIONS IN HERE. NOBODY THAT COMES HERE TO PLAY OR VISIT IS A FAN THAT DOES NOT ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE PLACE. CONFORTO NOW. ALEX: WE WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT HOW COMFORTABLE HITTERS GET WITH THEIR HITTING COACHES. CHILI DAVIS, UNDER HIS TUTELAGE, CONFORTO HAD HIS BEST CAREER YEAR IN 2020. SMITH WEDNESDAY HANK AARON AWARD. OF COURSE, THE BIG GUY ALONSO HITS 53 HOME RUNS. I KNOW THAT AS A HITTER, WHEN YOU TAKE THAT AWAY, A LOT GOES OUT THE DOOR. THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE OF A GUY ENTERING THE CLUBHOUSE NOT ONLY TO BE THE RIGHT GUY FOR MECHANICS BUT MENTALLY BEING ABLE TO CONNECT AND TRUST. THAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART. MATT: LINED PAST TURNER INTO RIGHT. MEMO TO THE NEXT -- NIMMO TO THE NEXT STATION. A SINGLE AND A WALK. RUNNERS AT FIRST AND SECOND WITH NOBODY OUT. THE MLB BALLPARK APP WILL COMPLETE YOUR NEXT VISIT TO THE BALLPARK. BY GAME TICKETS, OFFERS, AND MORE. DOWNLOAD THE MLB BALLPARK APP TODAY. IF PETE ALONSO CAN LEAN INTO ONE HERE, WE HAVE SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT. AS IT STANDS, IT IS A SEVEN RUN EEPHUS IT. ALONSO HAS DOUBLED IN THREE TRIPS TO THE PLATE. ONLY THREE R.B.I.S IN HIS LAST 15 GAMES BUT AN OPPORTUNITY HERE. ALEX: HE TALKED ABOUT, AS A PLAYER, DID I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT IS NEXT? IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, WE HAVE THREE INNINGS LEFT. THESE ARE THE FIRST THREE INNINGS. THAT IS AN AT-BAT THAT ALONSO IS NOT GOING TO LIKE. FORGET ABOUT THE SCORE. WHAT CAN WE DO NOW THAT WE CAN BUILD AND FEEL GOOD WHEN WE GET ON THAT CHARTER GOING WEST? THERE IS ALWAYS A RECAP ON THE PLANE. HOW DO WE GET THIS RIGHT? CHANGEUP, AND A LITTLE DISCONNECTED. OUT IN FRONT. MATT: IT HAS BEEN A ROUGH NIGHT FOR DOM SMITH. HE HAS STRANDED THREE RUNNERS AS A PART OF A 0-3. HE WILL HAVE ONE AWAY, FIRST AND SECOND. THAT ALMOST HIT HIM. CHANGEUP. A BALL AND NO STRIKES. MAX SCHERZER WENT SIX TONIGHT. NUNEZ OUT OF THE BULLPEN HERE IN THE SEVENTH. THIS IS A METS TEAM THAT WAS ALONE AT THE TOP OF THE STANDINGS FOR 90 CONSECUTIVE DAYS BETWEEN MAY 8 THROUGH AUGUST 5. 90 STRAIGHT DAYS ALONE IN THE TOP SPOT. WHEN YOU SCRATCH AT IT, THEY DID THAT BY PLAYING JUST A FEW GAMES OVER .500, MEANING IT WAS THE DIVISION'S INABILITY TO GET HOT AND HAVE SOMEBODY CONJURE THEM. A WINNING STREAK LAST WEEK. BUT THE PHILLIES NOW A GAME BACK OF THE BRAVES. THE METS, TWO OFF THE BASE. ALEX: NOT TOO MANY TEAMS CAN TAKE A BLOW LIKE THE BEST PITCHER IN THE WORLD, DEGROM. LINDOR NOT GETTING OFF TO AN IDEAL START, THEN GETTING INJURED. BIAS TRIES TO GO OUT AND DOUBLE DOWN. HE GETS HURT. SYNDERGAARD IS AROUND THE CORNER. NOT ALL INJURIES ARE CREATED EQUAL. NOT TOO MANY TEAMS ARE MISSING THEIR STAR PLAYERS, SHORTSTOP, AND THE CY YOUNG, AND A RUN AWAY FOR POSSIBLE M.V.P. VOTING IN DEGROM. MATT: THERE IS BALL FOUR. LOADS THE BASES IN THE SEVENTH INNING AND ONLY ONE AWAY. I THINK WE ARE GOING TO CA PITCHING CHANGE. DAVE ROBERTS IS NOT TAKING A SEVEN RUN LEAD FOR GRANTED. THAT IS GOING TO BE ALL FOR WELY NIGHT BASEBALL ON ESPN. TELECAST PRESENTED BY TACO BELL. SPORTSCENTER FOLLOWS THE METS AND DODGERS TONIGHT. POSTGAME REACTION FROM CITI FIELD AND A YANKEE STREAK AND THE ROAD TO A SEASON OF SPIRIT PLUS, AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE ROOKIE QUARTERBACKS. SPORTSCENTER NEXT ON ESPN AND ESPN APP. EDWIN UCETA IS THE NEW PITCHER FOR THE DODGERS. ROOKIE RIGHT-HANDER AND A TOUGH SPOT. YES, HE HAS A SEVEN RUN LEAD BUT HE HAS THE BASES LOADED. JEFF MCNEIL HAS DRIVEN IN A RUN TONIGHT. A BALL AND A STRIKE. DAVE ROBERTS MENTIONED THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY SEE BRUSDAR GRATEROL TONIGHT. HE HAS A LOT OF OUTS STILL TO GET HERE SO TOO EARLY FOR GRATEROL PERHAPS. 1-2. ALEX: UCETA, FASTBALL, SLIDER, CHANGE. HE HAS HAD PROBLEMS ALL YEAR LONG THROWING STRIKES, EVEN IN MOP UP SITUATIONS LIKE THIS. ONLY 23 FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. MATT: HE IS AMONG THE MORE WELL RESTED DODGERS. A BULLPEN THAT HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK OVER THE WEEKEND. THERE IS GRATEROL UP. THE METS ARE STILL WITHOUT A HIT WITH RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION. 0-10. IT HAS BEEN A ROUGH SERIES FOR THE METS SITUATIONAL HATERS. NIMMO, CONFORTO, AND SMITH A BOARD WITH ONE GONE. SEE TAKE ON A FASTBALL THAT SAILS. PHIL BICKFORD PITCHED LAST NIGHT. COREY KNEBEL PITCHED LAST NIGHT. ALEC VESSEY A PITCHED LAST NIGHT. THEN YOU HAVE GUYS LIKE JANSEN AND TREINEN, BOTH PITCHED ON FRIDAY. THE DODGERS HAVE TURNED OVER THERE BOTH A LOT THIS YEAR. WE SAW NUNEZ. THEY HAVE USED EIGHT LEFT-HANDED RELIEVERS THIS YEAR, THE DODGERS. A ROOKIE RIGHT-HANDER TRYING TO MITIGATE THE SITUATION. THAT ONE MISSING HIM AND IT BOUNCES AWAY. IT IS A WILD PITCH THAT BRINGS NIMMO IN TO SCORE. IT SOUNDED LIKE IT HIT NIMMO. IT MAY HAVE HIT THE HOME PLATE UMPIRE. ALEX: IT CERTAINLY LOOKED LIKE IT HIT MCNEIL. MATT: JUST CHECKED UP. I DON'T THINK IT HIT ANYBODY. ALEX: THAT IS PROBABLY EXACTLY ACCURATE BECAUSE A HITTER WILL TELL YOU WITH HIS BODY LANGUAGE AND REACTION IF IT HIT HIM. MATT: WHAT WE HEARD WAS THE CLANK OFF THE GLOVE. THAT RELOADS THE BASES. THIS HAS GOT INTERESTING HERE. ALEX: COMING UP, HE HAS NEVER HAD A CAREER GRAND SLAM, BUT IF YOU ARE DAVE ROBERTS, YOU WANT TO GET ON THAT PLANE AND HEAD WEST. DO NOT GIVE THE METS ANY OPPORTUNITIES TO WAKE UP. MATT: THE METS HAVE SCORED THREE RUNS TONIGHT WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF A HIT WITH RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION. TWO R.B.I. GROUND OUTS AND THEN A WILD PITCH HERE. HERE IS DAVIS. HE HAS STRUCK OUT THREE TIMES. ALEX: TIM WELKE IS TALKING TO THE PITCHER. MAYBE WANTS TO CHECK. OR SWEATING OR CLEANING UP SOMETHING. BILL WELKE, THE CREW CHIEF. I HAVE NEVER QUITE SEEN THAT BEFORE. MATT: TOWEL OFF. ALEX: IT IS SPORTSMANSHIP. MATT: HERE WE GO WITH JD DAVIS. ANOTHER GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO GET RIGHT BACK IN IT. 1-0. ONLY 14 R.B.I.S FOR DAVIS. IT HAS BEEN AN INJURY-MARKED CAMPAIGN FOR JD. THE SWITCH HITTER WAITS NEXT. A BALL AND A STRIKE. THE DODGERS HAVE LET THE METS HANG AROUND HERE. ON A NIGHT WHEN HE GETS SCHERZER AS DOMINANT AS HE WAS, AND ALWAYS IS, AND YOU GET FOUR HOMERS, THE PATIENT SHOULD NOT HAVE A PULSE AT THIS POINT, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. THE METS HAVE LIFE HERE ON A NIGHT WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN BEATEN UP. ALEX: ONE SWING OF THE BAT COULD MAKE IT A TWO-RUN GAME. MATT: THERE IS A SWING AND A DRIVE TO CENTER FIELD. BELLINGER AT THE WALL TO PUT IT AWAY. CONFORTO WILL TAG UP AND SCORE. MAN, DID JD DAVIS COME CLOSE TO THAT VERY SCENARIO. ALEX: DAVIS HAS NOT HAD A CAREER GRAND SLAM. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS FIRST. HE SHOULD BE STANDING AT THIRD BASE AND MOVED OVER ON THAT SAC FLY. AND WITH THE LEFT-HANDED HITTER, THAT IS A LITTLE MISTAKE. NOW, MUNCY IS NOT PLAYBACK AND THE DEFENSE IS A LOT MORE READY. IT OPENS UP MORE FOR A LEFT-HANDED HITTER. THESE ARE THE LITTLE THINGS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, LITTLE MISTAKES. YOU WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS BEING REALLY LASER FOCUSED. MATT: THE FIRST PITCH TO JONATHAN VILLAR IS IN FOR A STRIKE. MAX SCHERZER TONIGHT HAD A STRIKE PERCENTAGE THROUGH HIS FIRST SIX INNINGS OF 69%. THE STRIKE PERCENTAGE OF THE RELIEVERS SO FAR, 39%. THREE WALKS THIS INNING. 0-2 TO WIVILLAR. ALEX: FOR THE METS, AT LEAST THEY GET THEIR 15 SACRIFICE FLY OF THE YEAR. MATT: WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW THEY HAVE SCORED TONIGHT WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF A HIT WITH RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION. IN THE SERIES, TWO ON WILD PITCH'S, THREE ON GROUND OUTS, AND ONE ON A HIT, THE CONFORTO HOMER YESTERDAY AGAINST WALKER BUEHLER. 0-2. GOT HIM LOOKING. TWO IN THEIR HALF OF THE SEVENTH. MATT: ESPN'S TELECAST OF SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY TACO BELL. THE METS ARE NOT GOING AWAY QUIETLY TONIGHT. IT IS A 9-4 DODGERS LEAD AS WE WELCOME YOU BACK. FOUR HOMERS TONIGHT FOR LOS ANGELES INCLUDING A PAIR BY MAX MUNCY. MAX SCHERZER GREAT THROUGH FOUR INNINGS. THE NUMBER NINE SPOT LEADS OFF IN THE EIGHTH. EDWIN UCETA WILL GET A PLATE APPEARANCE. IT HAS BEEN A THEME TONIGHT. SET UP GUYS AND MIDDLE RELIEVERS GETTING HAD PAST. UCETA IS 0-3 AS A HITTER THIS YEAR. HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY TREA TURNER AND ALEX: MAX MUNCY. ALEX:DODGERS, NO PETS, NO KERSHAW, NO PROBLEM. THE METS, NO DEGROM, NO LINDOR, BIG PROBLEM. MATT: 0-2. AFTER HITTING THE FIRST BATTER HE FACED, GEOFF HARTLIEB STRUCK OUT THREE AND A ROW. 1-2. IT HAS BEEN A GRINDER OF A SERIES. FOR HOURS AND 18 MINUTES ON FRIDAY. NEXT ARE INNINGS LAST NIGHT. THAT IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH CHANCE FOR JD DAVIS. HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE THE PLAY. FIRST CAREER KNOCK FOR EDWIN UCETA. ALEX: AND THAT BALL COMES OUT. THAT IS A COLLECTORS ITEM. WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS. A LITTLE SLIDER. JUST NOTHING. MAX SCHERZER IS PROBABLY SAYING, IS IT THAT EASY? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? MATT: HE DID HAVE A HANDFUL OF HITS IN DOUBLE-A A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. HERE IS TURNER NOW, WHO HAS DONE NOTHING BUT HIT. MONTH BY MONTH, THE ONLY PLAYER WITH AT LEAST DAY .300 BATTING AVERAGE IN EACH MONTH OF THE SEASON. TRYING TO KEEP THAT ALIVE IN AUGUST. A FLY BALL TO CENTER. NIMMO WAITS FOR IT TO COME DOWN. IT HAS BEEN A WEEKEND FOR MAX MUNCY. ON FRIDAY NIGHT, SOMEBODY HAD A LASER POINTER FOCUSED IN HIS FACE. THE DODGERS TWITTER ACCOUNT, AFTER A TWO-HOMER NIGHT, SENDING THIS OUT, MAX IS LASER FOCUSED. ALEX: THE METS WILL NOT BE RE-TWEETING THAT, SAFE TO SAY. MATT: MUNCY LOOKING FOR A THIRD HOMER TONIGHT. JUSTIN TURNER HAS HOMERED. HE WAITS ON DECK BEHIND MUNCY. IF YOU ARE WONDERING, MUNCY HAS NEVER ENJOYED A -- TURNER HAS NEVER ENJOYED A THREE HOMER NIGHT. BECAUSE THE NATIONAL LEAGUE M.V.P. RACE IS A LITTLE UNCLEAR. A GUY LIKE MAX MUNCY, PROBABLY YOUR CANDIDATE A DODGER THAT YOU WOULD SUBMIT FOR CHRIS TAYLOR HAS BEEN GREAT THIS YEAR. ALEX: I THINK IT IS A SAFE CALL. HE DOES IT EVERY NIGHT. SHOWS UP EVERY DAY, THAT DISCIPLINE NOT TO CHASE. THEN WHEN YOU HAVE A RIGHT-HANDED HITTER LIKE TURNER, A CLUTCH HITTER, CONTACT GUY. IT MAKES IT REALLY TOUGH. MATT: WE WILL REFRESH YOU WITH THE RANKS EARLIER. KEEP IN MIND THAT AUGUST HAD NOT GONE REAL WELL FOR MAX. ENTERING TONIGHT, HE WAS 8-40 THIS MONTH WITH ONE HOMER. SO MUCH OF THAT DAMAGE HAPPENED BEFORE THE ALL-STAR BREAK. REALLY, IN ONE WEEKEND HERE IN NEW YORK, HE TURNED IT AROUND. A TWO-RUN HOMER AND TWO WALKS FOR JUSTIN TURNER TONIGHT. ALEX: ONE THING, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DODGERS AND TAKE A STEP BACK, THERE IS A SWING AND THAT GOES ON IN BASEBALL. YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF DODGERS HITTERS SWINGING POORLY, CHECKED SWINGING, SWINGING OUT OF CONTROL. YOU SEE THAT ALL AROUND BASEBALL. GIVE CREDIT TO THE DODGERS FRONT OFFICE THAT THEY LOOKED FOR PLAYERS LIKE MUNCY, LIKE TURNER. THE 200 STRIKEOUTS OR BETTER. WHETHER THE SCORE IS 9-4 OR 4-4, THEY WILL BE CONSISTENT AND HAVE A CHAMPIONSHIP APPROACH. MATT: THERE IS NO OUTLIER, NO SECOND DIVISION TEAM THAT APPEARS ON THAT LIST. TURNER SENDS THAT ONE TO RIGHT. HE MAKES THE CATCH. >> INTRODUCING THE GRUBHUB GUARANTEE. OUR PROMISE DELIVER YOUR ORDER ONLINE, AND YOU CAN GET BACK AT LEAST FIVE DOLLARS IN PERKS. ALEX: YOU ALSO NEED SOME LUCK. THE MOST HOME RUNS HE HAS EVER HIT, 27 AND A COUPLE OF SEASONS AND ANOTHER ONE IN 21. HIS PERFORMANCE IN THE POSTSEASON HAS BEEN STELLAR. MATT: RUNNERS AT THE CORNERS WITH TWO GONE NOW FOR COREY SEAGER, WHO HAS SINGLED TONIGHT. THERE INCONSISTENT IN 21 CAREER GAMES AGAINST THE METS. -- VERY CONSISTENT IN 21 CAREER GAMES AGAINST THE METS. THAT ONE IN THE DIRT. ADVANCING IS MUNCY. HE WILL GET TO SECOND ON A WILD PITCH. ALEX: THIS IS AN OFFENSE THAT I AM TRYING TO RE-CREATE. DISCIPLINE CONTACT. REMEMBER, EXIT VELOCITY ONLY MATTERS IF YOU MAKE CONTACT. MATT: WE HAVE BECOME SO IN LOVE WITH THOSE FANCY NUMBERS. THIS IS A BALL AND A STRIKE. THE SET OF THE RUNNER AT THIRD. MUNCY AFTER THE WILD PITCH TO SECOND WITH TWO GONE. AND, IT IS 3-0 BETWEEN LAST YEAR'S NLCS AND WORLD SERIES M.V.P.. ALEX: THIS IS WHERE THE SPORTSMANSHIP GAME COMES INTO PLAY. IS HE SWINGING OR NOT? FIVE RUN LEAD, TOP OF THE EIGHTH. MATT: YOU ARE SWINGING HERE, RIGHT? ALEX: ADD ON. MATT: UNLESS IT IS A WIDE ONE LIKE THAT. NEITHER BULLPENS FARING VERY WELL IN TERMS OF STRIKE RATE TONIGHT. SECOND WALK OF THE INNING AND THAT WILL BRING JEREMY HEFNER BACK TO THE MOUND AGAIN. AS WE WATCH COREY SEAGER'S PLATE APPEARANCE, WE TALK ABOUT IT SO OFTEN, THE FREE AGENT CLASS OF THIS 21-22 OFF-SEASON. SEAGER IS RIGHT THERE WITH GUYS LIKE TREVOR STORY, CARLOS CORREA, JAVY BAEZ, MARCUS SEMIEN. A GUY WHO DOES NOT GET ANY MENTION, WHO IS HAVING THE BEST YEAR OF HIS CAREER, BRANDON CRAWFORD. WE DID NOT HAVE HIM ON THAT LIST WHEN ALL OF THIS SHORTSTOP FREE AGENT TALK BEGAN. HE IS HAVING ONE OF THE BEST YEARS OF ANYBODY IN THAT GROUP. ALEX: A GUY WHO SHOULD BE MENTIONED IN THE M.V.P. TALK. AND A GUY WHO JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, PEOPLE WERE SAYING, IS HE DONE? MATT: THE GIANTS CERTAINLY PAID ATTENTION AND THIS WEEKEND, RE-UPPED HIM FOR MORE. THERE IS A STRIKE TO WILL SMITH. SMITH HAS HOMERED TONIGHT. SMITH HAS HOMERED IN EVERY GAME THIS WEEKEND. WILL SMITH IS TURNING INTO ONE OF THOSE CLUTCH GUYS. HE IS STILL IN THE INFANCY OF HIS MAJOR LEAGUE CAREER. FIVE GO-AHEAD HITS IN THE DODGERS LAST AT-BAT THIS YEAR, INCLUDING A BIG HOMER AGAINST THE GIANTS TO WALK IT OFF ON JULY 20. BIG OFFENSIVE UPSIDE THAT CATCHER. ALEX: HE PLAYS THE GAME EASY. DOES NOT OVERDO IT. MATT: HE HAS MADE ABOUT A SEASON'S WORTH OF STARTS IN HIS CAREER. 161. 112 R.B.I.S, 99 RUN SCORED. THAT IS A PRETTY GOOD YEAR. ALEX: INDEED. LOOKING FOR HIS SECOND CAREER GRAND SLAM. MATT: HOW ABOUT A TWO-RUN SINGLE? 11-4 LOS ANGELES. ALEX: A RELENTLESS APPROACH BY THE DODGERS OFFENSE ALL NIGHT, ALL WEEKEND. 2-2 FASTBALL. 95. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE SEEN TWO STRIKE HITTING, PASSING THE BATON. I REMEMBER PLAYING SERIES LIKE THIS AGAINST TEAMS LIKE THE RED SOX. WHEN YOU PLAY THREE OR FOUR GAMES OVER A WEEKEND. MATT: MORE DAMAGE. CHRIS TAYLOR FINALLY GETS INTO THE ACT. R.B.I. DOUBLE FOR HIM. 12-4 DODGERS. ALEX: EIGHT OUT OF THE 12 RUNS HAVE COME AFTER TWO OUTS. TAYLOR, 0-4, FOUR K'S. MATT: WAS NOT GOING TO STRIKE OUT A FIFTH TIME. ALEX: ABOUT THREE HOURS. I WAS SAYING, WHEN YOU PLAY A SERIES LIKE THIS, YOU WANT TO SLEEP UNTIL WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY. THERE IS A HANGOVER USUALLY ON MONDAY OR TUESDAY. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TIME OF POSSESSION, IT IS PROBABLY 80% TO 20%. ON FOOTBALL TERMS. THE METS, IT FEELS LIKE THEY PLAYED SIX OR SEVEN GAMES. MATT: A BALL AND A STRIKE TO CODY BELLINGER, THE EIGHTH DODGER TO PAT IN THE INNING. YOU GET THE SENSE THAT LOUIS ROJAS WANTS TO GET THROUGH THIS WITH HARTLIEB AND NOT HAVE TO USE ANOTHER ARM HERE. POPPED IN FOUL TERRITORY. DAVIS HANGS ON. DOES HE MAKE THE CATCH? HE DOES, TO END THE INNING. MORE DODGER DAMAGE IN THE EIGHTH MATT: LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT TONIGHT'S GAME TRACK. PLENTY OF DODGER DAMAGE. WILL SMITH HAS HOMERED IN ALL THREE GAMES IN THE SERIES AND ADDED TWO MORE R.B.I.S LAST INNING. MAX SCHERZER DID NOT NEED THAT SUPPORT BUT HE WAS HAPPY FOR IT. FOR THE METS, FOUR RUNS WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF A HIT WITH A RUNNER IN SCORING POSITION. THEY GET THE EIGHT, NINE, AND TOP OF THE ORDER FOR THE METS. JAMES MCCANN, HITLESS TONIGHT. IT IS 0-2. MATT BEATY HAS TAKEN OVER AT FIRST BASE FOR LOS ANGELES. SO, I GUESS, LOOKING FOR SOME POSITIVES FOR THE METS TONIGHT. ALEX: I LIKE WHEN YOU GET FIRED UP OR. MATT: A TEAM THAT IS IN THE HUNT THAT IS DECIMATED BY INJURIES AS THE METS ARE, YOU THINK ABOUT THE PATH TO GET TO WHERE THEY WANT TO GET, AND THAT IS THE POSTSEASON. THEY HAVE 10 LEFT IN SEPTEMBER WITH THE CUBS AND PIRATES COMBINED. A CHANCE TO GET HEALTHY. THOSE ARE TWO TEAMS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PRETTY ROUGH STRAITS. THEY HAVE A SERIES WITH THE NATIONALS, A TEAM THEY JUST SWEPT LAST WEEK. BRANDON DRURY NOW. ALEX: I THINK, IF YOU ARE THE METS, YOU ARE HOPING FOR TWO THINGS. ONE, YOU WANT TO GET TO THE WEST COAST AND PLAY .500 BASEBALL AGAINST THESE TWO TEAMS. THE OTHER, YOU WANT TIME TO GET DEGROM, LINDOR, BY IS HEALTHY AND GET READY FOR THAT SEPTEMBER RUN. MATT: YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE INJURY BUG HAS DONE TO THE METS, IT HAS DAMAGED THEM ACCORDING TO WAR MORE SO THAN ANY OTHER FRANCHISE. THE DODGERS HAVE HAD SO MUCH DEPTH THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OVERCOME THOSE BODY BLOWS. ALEX: WITH THE ADDITION OF SCHERZER AND TURNER, THE TIME COULD NOT BE BETTER. MATT: I WANT TO CORRECT MYSELF ON THAT SCHEDULE NOTE. THEY DO HAVE A SERIES LEFT WITH THE NATIONALS BUT THE METS ARE DONE WITH THE PIRATES AND CUBS. MY MISTAKE. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. NO APOLOGY NEEDED FOR THIS. MAKING HIS FIRST CAREER MAJOR LEAGUE START, A NO-HITTER YESTERDAY AGAINST A VERY GOOD SAN DIEGO PADRES TEAM. YES, THE PADRES WERE WITHOUT FERNANDO TATIS JR. YESTERDAY. BUT, WITH A LOT OF SUPPORT IN THE STANDS, A FULL FAMILY THERE. A PRETTY GREAT NIGHT FOR TYLER GILBERT. ALEX: MY FAVORITE THING IS WATCHING THE FATHER. HE PROBABLY FELT LIKE HE THREW THREE NO-HITTERS. SO EXCITED, YOU SEE THE HUG AFTERWARDS. THE MOM, THE FAMILY. IT IS TERRIFIC. MATT: 27-YEAR-OLD ROOKIE. FIRST CAREER BIG-LEAGUE START. JOINS EDWIN JACKSON AND RANDY JOHNSON, JUST THE THIRD BY A DIAMONDBACK. I THINK E-JACKS WALKED EIGHT WHEN HE HAD HIS NO-HITTER. SEVEN WALKS FOR HIM. NOT ONLY HIS FIRST NO-HITTER. FIRST CAREER COMPLETE GAME AT ANY LEVEL. ALEX: I HOPE THERE IS A YOUNG KID OUT THERE OR EVEN SOMEONE WHO IS A JOURNEYMAN IN THE MINORS WHO SAY, BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DID, I AM NOT GOING TO QUIT. I WILL KEEP FIGHTING AND SHOWING THAT PERSISTENCE IT TAKES TO BE A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER. MATT: 1-2 ON BRANDON NIMMO. ALEX: 27-YEAR-OLD ROOKIE. EDGAR MARTINEZ, WHO IS NOW IN THE HALL OF FAME, HE WAS A 27-YEAR-OLD ROOKIE. MATT: WAS HE REALLY? ALEX: I BETTER BE RIGHT BECAUSE TWITTER WILL CRUSH ME IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. MATT: I JUST GOT THE METS SCHEDULE WRONG. IT IS ALREADY A THING. ALEX: EDGAR MARTINEZ, A GUY WHO WAS A FINE HITTER, DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF POWER. HE HAD A KNEE INJURY AND BECAME A WORLD-CLASS DH. SOMETIMES IN BASEBALL, IT TAKES TIME TO MATURE AND BECOME A GREAT PLAYER. MATT: THE ASPECT OF THE ALBERT NO-HITTER THAT I LIKE, I LIKE THE FACT THAT THE DIAMONDBACKS HAD SOMETHING TO HANG THEIR CAP ON THIS YEAR BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A REALLY ROUGH YEAR IN THE DESERT. 2-2. CALLED STRIKE THREE. MATT: IT HAS BEEN THAT KIND OF NIGHT FOR THE NEW YORK METS. BRANDON DRURY WILL PITCH THE NINTH. FIRST CAREER PITCHING APPEARANCE. HE WILL FACE THE EIGHTH, NINTH, AND TOP OF THE ORDER HERE. THE METS IN THE MIDST OF A 13 GAME GAUNTLET BETWEEN THE TWO BEST TEAMS IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE. HEADING ON A PLANE TONIGHT FOR A GAME IN SAN FRANCISCO TOMORROW. THEY HAVE OPTED FOR A POSITION PLAYER IN THE NINTH. ALEX: RICH HILL STILL IN THE METS CLUBHOUSE, DID NOT FLY AHEAD. CHARTER SHOULD LAND 3:00, 4:00 IN THE MORNING. MATT: I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THE COVID PROTOCOL HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH NOT SENDING THE STARTER OUT A DAY EARLY, WHICH HAD BEEN LONG-STANDING PRACTICE. KEEP RICH OFF THE COMMERCIAL FLIGHT TODAY. ALEX: USUALLY, MANAGERS AND ORGANIZATIONS WILL GIVE A VETERAN PITCHER THE OPTION TO FLY AHEAD, HAVE A NICE DINNER DO YOU MIND IF I TALK A LITTLE BIG PITCHER? MATT: I WOULD LOVE IT. ALEX: I DID SEE HE THROWS A LITTLE KNUCKLEBALL. THE METS FANS GIVE HIM A NICE CHEER. THERE IS TWO THINGS IN MY MIND THAT HAVE TO CHANGE. ONE IS ALL THE WALKS, ESPECIALLY BY RELIEVERS. A LOT OF ROCK THROWERS HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THE BALL IS GOING. THE SECOND ONE IS THIS ALL OR NOTHING HITTING THAT LEADS TO STRIKE OUT AFTER STRIKEOUT. IF BASEBALL WANTS QUICKER GAMES, IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT HAPPENS. THEY WALKS AND STRIKEOUTS, BIG ISSUE. ULTIMATELY, THE QUALITY OF THE GAME. THERE IS A KNUCKLEBALL. IT IS GOING TO BE SO MUCH BETTER IF THERE IS AN APPROACH UP THERE THAT HAS TREMENDOUS RECOURSE THEY CAN PUNCH OUT. MATT: BY THE WAY, I FEEL LIKE THIS MATCHUP SHOULD BE FLIP-FLOPPED. EDWIN UCETA, MIDDLE RELIEVER MAKING HIS SECOND PLATE APPEARANCE. BRANDON DRURY, A POSITION PLAYER, PITCHING TO HIM. THE COUNT IS EVEN, 2-2. ALEX: I TELL YOU WHAT, THE KNUCKLEBALL GRIP. MATT: TWO UP, TWO DOWN. BY THE WAY, IT WAS FLIP-FLOPPED. HE PITCHED TO HIM LAST INNING. SPEAKING OF UCETA PITCHING TO DRURY. ALEX: HERE IS THE KNUCKLEBALL GRIP. THAT WASN'T IT. REMINDS ME OF WADE BOGGS, WHO HAD A FANTASTIC KNUCKLEBALL. YOU WOULD PLAY CATCH WITH HIM AND YOU COULD BARELY CATCH IT. HE GOT IN THERE FINALLY AND THREW A COUPLE OF INNINGS AND WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. TREA TURNER GETS HIT BY THE PITCH. REMEMBER I SAID, YOU GIVE THE GUY THE GREEN LIGHT ON A 3-0 COUNT WHEN IT WAS 9-4. THE SAME DOES NOT APPLY TO TREA TURNER IN THE NINTH INNING IN A 12-4 GAME ON-BASE. HE WILL NOT BE RUNNING HERE. MATT: MATT 80 HAS HIT A HOMER. TWO-RUN SHOT, TOP TANK. FIRST PITCH HE HAS SEEN TONIGHT. A TWO-RUN HOME RUN. 14-4, LOS ANGELES. ALEX: 67 MILES AN HOUR. RIGHT DOWN BROADWAY. 67, YOU BARELY GET PULLED OVER ON THE HIGHWAY FOR THAT. MATT: HERE IS JUSTIN TURNER NOW. I AM SURE A LOT OF THE PUNDITS WILL HAVE OPINIONS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THINGS LIKE THIS SHOULD CONTINUE IN THE GAME. BANG IT, SHUT IT DOWN. 0-2 THE COUNT TO JUSTIN TURNER. AT BEST, IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, NOBODY GETS HURT. 2-2. THERE IS JUST NO WIN FOR ANYBODY HERE. THE TRAILING TEAM IS OBVIOUSLY TAXED AND WAVING A WHITE FLAG. TURNER IS GOING TO SPRAY ONE INTO THE CORNER. HE WILL PUT THE BRAKES ON AROUND FIRST BASE, WISELY SO. TWO-OUT SINGLE. A LOOK AT THE UPCOMING SCHEDULE ON ESPN. TOMORROW, A'S AND WHITE SOX, 8:00 P.M. WEDNESDAY, RED SOX AND YANKEES FROM THE BRONX. SUNDAY, THE LITTLE LEAGUE CLASSIC FROM WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, THE ANGELS AND INDIANS ON SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL. I WILL SAY THIS FOR BRANDON DRURY. HE WORKS QUICK. I LOVE HIS PACE. ALEX: AND THROWS STRIKES. MATT: HE GOT THE FIRST TWO HATERS, THEN HE HIT TREA TURNER AND THE HOMER BY BEATY. NOW BACK TO BACK SINGLES AS SEAGER IS A BOARD. WILL SMITH HAS MADE A BIG IMPACT IN THE SERIES. HE HAS HOMERED ALL THREE GAMES. HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU HIT AGAINST A POSITION PLAYER? WAS IT A LOT, A HANDFUL? ALEX: MY GUESS WOULD BE UNDER 10. MATT: ANYTHING YOUR MEMBER? ALEX: NOTHING GOOD. IT IS ALL LOSE FOR THE HITTER. IF YOU GET A HIT, YOU ARE LIKE GREAT. USUALLY GETS YOU OUT AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME SLEEPING. MATT: REALLY, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO HOMER AND THEN YOU ARE LIKE, WHAT AM I DOING PILING ON? WHO IS THE MOST NOTABLE -- DO YOU REMEMBER A NOTABLE POSITION PLAYER, LIKE BRANDON DRURY WHO IS A UTILITY PLAYER. IT IS NEVER A STAR THAT IS OUT THERE. YOU NEVER FACED DAVID ORTIZ ON THE MOUND IS WHAT I AM SAYING? ALEX: NO. KEN GRIFFEY ALWAYS USED TO HARASS LOU PINIELLA ABOUT LETTING HIM PITCH ONE INNING. LOU PINIELLA WAS LIKE, ARE YOU CRAZY, YOU ARE MY M.V.P., CENTER FIELDER, AND ENDING THIRD. NOT UNDER MY WATCH. MATT: THE FANS ARE ENJOYING THIS. METS FANS HAVE A REALLY WELL-EARNED REPUTATION FOR STICKING AROUND, AS SO MANY OF THEM HAVE TONIGHT IN THE FACE OF A 10-RUN DEFICIT. ALEX: ONE THING ABOUT BEING A PLAYER WHEN 60% OF THEM GO HOME OR 70%, YOU HEAR EVERYTHING SO CLEARLY. MATT: IT IS LIKE GOING TO OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE HAHA HOLE, AND YOU GET THE 12:22 A.M. SLOT, AND THE ONLY PEOPLE IN THE CLUB ARE THOSE TO GIVE YOU A HARD TIME. I THINK LOUIS ROJAS IS GOING TO TRY SOMEONE ELSE. IT IS GOING TO BE KEVIN PILLAR. BRANDON DRURY DID WHAT HE COULD. THE METS WILL USE A DIFFERENT POSITION PLAYER NOW TO LOOK FOR THE FINAL OUT IN THE INNING. MATT: THE METS ARE TRYING TO GET THROUGH THE INNING WITH MULTIPLE POSITION PLAYERS ON THE MOUND. BRANDON DRURY AT THE FIRST TWO OUTS, LEADS -- LEAVES WITH SOME RISE IN AND THE BASES LOADED. CHRIS TAYLOR SENDS IT FOUL INTO LEFT. HOME PLATE UMPIRE IS DOING HIS BEST TO TRY TO EXTRA DATE A CONCLUSION TONIGHT, NOTING THE GRUELING TRAVEL NIGHT AHEAD OF BOTH TEAMS. THE KIND OF LOST NATURE OF THIS. TWO ON TAYLOR. I WILL SAY THIS. IF THEY GO TO AUTOMATED STRIKE SOUNDS, YOU LOSE THE ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, TO WIDEN THE ZONE. THAT IS WHY HAVING A HUMAN BACK THERE IN MY MIND IS THE RIGHT THING. ALEX: I AM A BIG FAN OF THE HUMAN BEHIND THE PLATE CONTROLLING THE GAME, BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THE STRIKE ZONE. TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, IF A TEAM IS WAVING THE WHITE FLAG, GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT IN A NICE WAY. MATT: TAYLOR SENDS A BALL TO RIGHT CENTER. THAT IS A MERCIFUL END TO THE TOP OF MATT: MAX SCHERZER DID NOT NEED THIS KIND OF SUPPORT BUT HE APPRECIATES IT. FOUR HOMERS BY THE DODGERS, MAKE IT FIVE IF YOU COUNT MAX MUNCY'S HOMER AGAINST A POSITION PLAYER. 14 RUNS ON 16 HITS. ALL SMILES FOR THE VISITORS WHO ARE THREE OUTS AWAY FROM A ROAD SWEEP IN FLUSHING, QUEENS, TONIGHT. HOPING THAT IT WILL BE THE FINAL PITCHING CHANGE OF THE GAME. DAVE ROBERTS GOES WITH CONNER GREENE TO WORK THE BOTTOM HALF OF INNING NUMBER NINE. GREAT PLAY BY SEAGER BUT THE THROW IS TOO LATE. IT IS AN INFIELD SINGLE FOR MICHAEL CONFORTO. ALEX: RANGING TO HIS RIGHT BUT CONFORTO RUNS TOO WELL AND BEATS IT EASILY. MATT: SO NOW, PETE ALONSO. I ALWAYS THINK OF JOHN KRUK'S LINE, AND BEFORE HE BECAME A BROADCASTER ON ESPN AND HIS CURRENT ROLE AS A PHILLIES ANALYST. WHEN THE PHILLIES WERE SADDLED WITH A HUGE DEFICIT AT DODGER STADIUM, IRONICALLY. ALONSO SENDS A FLY BALL TO RIGHT. HE SAID, AFTER THE PHILLIES CAME BACK TO WIN WITH A BUNCH OF RUNS LATE, HE SAID TO REPORTERS AFTER THE GAME, I THOUGHT THEY HAD A BETTER CHANCE OF FINDING AMELIA EARHART THAN WE DID HAVE COMING BACK TO WIN THAT GAME. ONE GONE HERE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE NINTH. DOMINIC SMITH, THE BATTER. CONNER GREENE, A SANTA MONICA KID. HE WAS A WAIVER CLAIM OFF THE ORIOLES ROSTER EARLIER THIS YEAR. ANOTHER GUY WHO HAS PLAYED FOR MORE THAN TWO TEAMS. A FEW OF THESE GUYS IN THIS GAME TONIGHT. FLY BALL. THE METS ARE DOWN TO THEIR LAST OUT. REMINDER, TOMORROW, OR ESPN PLUS MATCHUP, THE FIRST OF FOUR BETWEEN THE BIRDS AND THE RAYS AT THE TROP. GO TO ESPNPLUS.COM OR DOWNLOAD THE ESPN APP. JEFF MCNEIL REPRESENTS THE LAST CHANCE TONIGHT. BOTH TEAMS IN ACTION ON THE WEST COAST TOMORROW. THE DODGERS GOING HOME TO START A HOMESTAND WITH PITTSBURGH. THESE METS OFF TO SAN FRANCISCO FOR A SERIES WITH THE FIRST PLACE GIANTS. SLICING IN LEFT. RACING INTO THE CORNER IS TAYLOR. IT IS A FOUL BALL. A NIGHT LIKE THIS, 10 RUN GAME, YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYONE GET HURT. ALEX: YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THE SLIDE. YOU APPRECIATE TAYLOR PLAYING HARD BUT SO MUCH CAN GO WRONG IN THAT CORNER. MATT: 0-2 TO JEFF MCNEIL. OUT THERE AGAIN AND SLICING FOUL. SPEAKING OF THE GIANTS, THEY WERE WINNERS AGAIN TODAY, 5-2 VICTORY OVER THE ROCKIES. AS WELL AS THE DODGERS HAVE BEEN PLAYING, THEY HAVE WON SIX OF SEVEN. WE WILL CALL IT SEVEN OF EIGHT. THEY WILL HAVE GAINED A SINGLE GAME ON SAN FRANCISCO. THE GIANTS FAILED TO GIVE ANY GROUND. A FINAL OF 14-4 FOR THE DODGERS. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. WE WILL SEE YOU

Channel: MLB full games 2021

Views: 545,079

Keywords:

Id: _NQeg4oPjwc

Length: 187min 29sec (11249 seconds)

Published: Mon Aug 16 2021